Minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy in the reoperative neck

BACKGROUND: Operations for hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in a previously operated neck present a significant challenge and carry much higher morbidity rates than first-time operations. Our extensive experience with minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy (MIRP) for first-time surgery for HPT has shown this method to be a directed approach to the offending adenoma, suggesting that the technique could be used to minimize reoperative neck surgery as well. METHODS: Over an 11-month period 24 consecutive patients with primary HPT who had undergone at least one previous neck operation were referred for re-exploration. All patients underwent preoperative sestamibi scanning; 21 localized sufficiently to undergo MIRP. RESULTS: All patients were cured after reoperation. Eighteen patients underwent MIRP under local anesthesia as outpatients; 3 MIRPs were done under general anesthesia. Average total operative time was 44 minutes, average incision length was 3.0 cm +/- 0.2 cm. Nineteen of the procedures were completed without any frozen sections. There were no complications. CONCLUSION: MIRP is extremely effective in patients with HPT who have undergone previous neck exploration for parathyroid or thyroid disease. The technique allows for such a directed dissection that smaller incisions and local anesthesia in an outpatient setting are routine.