Conventional bilateral cervical exploration versus open minimally invasive parathyroidectomy under local anaesthesia for primary hyperparathyroidism

Background: Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) has been introduced for the treatment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Thus far, only one randomized trial has compared video‐assisted MIP with conventional bilateral cervical exploration (BCE). The value of open MIP is therefore not known. Methods: Fifty patients with a solitary parathyroid adenoma localized before surgery by sestamibi scintigraphy were randomized to undergo BCE under general anaesthesia (n = 25) or targeted MIP via a 2‐cm incision using local anaesthesia (n = 25). Postoperative hypocalcaemia was the primary endpoint. Secondary outcome measures were operating time, complications, postoperative analgesia and recurrent disease. Follow‐up was carried out at 1 and 6 months. Results: All patients who underwent BCE and 24 of those who had MIP were cured by the primary operation. Operating time was 22 min shorter in the MIP group (P = 0·024). Serum levels of calcium were slightly lower during the first 4 days after surgery in the BCE group (P = 0·022). No other no significant differences were found. Conclusion: Targeted MIP using local anaesthesia reduces operating time and causes less postoperative biochemical hypocalcaemia compared with bilateral neck exploration. Copyright © 2004 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Open targeted operation reduces operation time