"Limited" parathyroidectomy in geriatric patients

Elderly patients with primary hyperparathyroidism accompanied by other diseases are often denied referral for parathyroidectomy because of the associated risks of general anesthesia and bilateral neck exploration. However, marked symptomatic improvement is recognized after successful parathyroidectomy. The purpose of this report is to examine the postoperative outcome of geriatric patients undergoing "limited" parathyroidectomy. Since 1993, 291 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were treated with "limited" parathyroidectomy guided by preoperative localization and intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay. In 34 of the procedures (29 initial, 5 reoperations), the patient was 75 years or older; these patients are the subject of this report. Patients were followed up for serum calcium, parathyroid hormone levels, and symptomatology. Twenty-seven patients were followed up for 31 (range 6-84) months: all remained normocalcemic after single gland excision guided by intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay. Another six patients in the immediate postoperative period had normocalcemia. One patient had persistent hypercalcemia. Unilateral neck exploration was possible in 29 patients. The average operating time for initial parathyroidectomy was 50 (range 20-130) minutes. Nineteen patients were eligible for ambulatory surgery. Seven were discharged without an overnight stay, 11 had a 23-hour "social" admission, and one was kept overnight after a prolonged surgical procedure. Permanent hypoparathyroidism and laryngeal nerve injury were not observed. The mortality rate related to the procedure was 0%; there was one postoperative (do not resuscitate) death caused by colonic hemorrhage. With an average follow-up of 2 years, 64% of the patients had marked improvement of symptoms. Adjunctive use of preoperative localization and intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay has made "limited" parathyroidectomy a safe, effective treatment option in geriatric patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.