Endocrine Surgery

Exploring : Risks, Procedures, and Surgery Types

admin Jul 31, 2024

Endocrine surgery is the most effective treatment for disorders affecting the endocrine system, which is a complex network of interrelated glands and hormones that regulate various functions of the body and mind.

Conditions affecting Endocrine system

Aberrations in hormone production or action can lead to a wide range of endocrine disorders, some of them include:

Metabolic syndrome
Diabetes mellitus type I and II
Obesity
Goiter
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Thyroiditis (autoimmune, Hashimoto)
Osteoporosis
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Multiple endocrine neoplasia I and II
Thyroid gland tumors
Prolactinomas (prolactin overproduction)
Adrenal gland adenomas and carcinomas

Surgical intervention for endocrine condition is considered when medical management fails to adequately control symptoms, also when there is risk of malignancy. Common endocrine disorders that call for surgery include adrenal tumors, adrenocortical carcinoma, parathyroid cancer, thyroid nodules, goiter, neuroendocrine tumors.

Endocrine surgery and its importance

Endocrine surgery encompasses a range of procedures targeting the various endocrine glands, including the thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands. The primary goal of endocrine surgery is to restore normal endocrine function, often through the removal or treatment of tumors, growths, or dysfunctional glandular tissue.

Risk of endocrine surgery

Like any other surgery the common risk associated with endocrine surgery includes

Bleeding during and after surgery
Variations in blood pressure
Infections at the incision site
Nerve damage
Damage to nearby organs
Low calcium levels
Respiratory and breathing difficulties

Types

The type of endocrine surgery is decided depending on the condition and on the potential identification of the abnormal area. Here are a few types of them:

Adrenalectomy: Adrenalectomy is a surgical procedure aimed at removing one or both adrenal glands. This procedure is performed to treat various adrenal gland conditions, including adrenal tumors, adrenal hyperplasia, and adrenal cancers. Adrenalectomy has two subtypes:

Open Adrenalectomy: In patients for whom the advanced surgical approach is not possible because of tumor size or other locations, conventional open surgery may be done.
Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy: This minimally invasive technique involves making small incisions through specialized instruments, inserted with camera. It provides faster recovery rate and fewer complications compared to open surgery.

Procedure:

Imaging studies like CT scan or MRI are usually done, along with hormonal tests, to assess the adrenal function and characteristics of the tumor. General anesthesia will be administered during the procedure. Depending upon the surgery choice, either laparoscopic or open, adrenal gland is accessed maybe from the abdomen or the back. The adrenal gland is carefully dissected and removed while preserving the local structures, such as blood vessels and adjacent organs. Closure is done with sutures or staples, and sometimes a drain is placed to prevent fluid buildup.

Postoperative Care:

Generally, recovery time for this procedure is a few days of hospitalization for pain management and monitoring hormone levels. Follow-up on recovery, hormone levels, and any symptoms of recurrence usually follow in regular visits.

Parathyroid Surgery (Parathyroidectomy)

Parathyroid surgery, also known as parathyroidectomy which involves removal of one or more parathyroid glands which are located behind the thyroid gland mainly responsible for regulating calcium levels in the body by producing parathyroid hormone (PTH). Depending on the condition the below technique of parathyroidectomy may be preferred.

Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy (MIP): To accurately locate and remove the abnormal parathyroid gland this method utilizes focused approaches such as ultrasound-guided or gamma probe-assisted surgery.
Traditional Parathyroidectomy or Bilateral neck exploration: This Involves a slightly larger incision and exploration of all four parathyroid glands to locate and remove the affected gland.

Procedure:

Diagnostic imaging like ultrasound scan and blood tests can be done to detect the abnormal gland, besides calculating calcium and parathyroid hormone levels in the blood. The surgery is done under general anesthesia for the comfort and safety of the patient. A small neck incision, depending upon the type of surgery, or extended neck or upper chest incision is made.

Identification of the gland and removal: The surgeon identifies only the abnormal parathyroid gland(s) and removes it, preserving structures like the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the thyroid gland. Incisions are sutured, and a drain may be placed to avoid fluid buildup.

Postoperative Care:

Most patients recover quickly, with a short hospital stay. To ensure hormone normalization and check for variations follow-up visits with the endocrinologist is advised to monitor calcium levels, PTH levels and overall health.

Outcome: Parathyroidectomy is one of the most effective treatments for hyperparathyroidism. The aims of it are to normalize serum calcium and decrease bone pain, formation of kidney stones, and fatigue.

Thyroidectomy: Probably the most known endocrine surgical procedure. which involves the partial or complete removal of the thyroid gland. It is performed for thyroid cancer, benign thyroid nodules, or hyperthyroidism.

Endocrine surgery is an imperative job to restore hormonal balance and health, bringing about cure or an improvement in conditions like adrenal, parathyroid, and thyroid disorders by ensuring patient safety through advanced surgical techniques and postoperative care.