title: Can parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism be carried out as a day-case procedure?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism has traditionally involved a bilateral neck exploration performed as an in-patient procedure. We present a feasibility study to demonstrate whether, with a focused surgical exploration, the procedure can be carried out as a day case.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven patients had pre-operative sestamibi and ultrasound scans of the neck. When the results of these scans agreed, a unilateral neck exploration was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-seven patients received a focused approach parathyroidectomy. Ninety-seven per cent of these patients were normocalcaemic after the first operation. All patients who fitted the day-case criteria left hospital the following morning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When pre-operative imaging results agree, a parathyroidectomy can be carried out using a unilateral neck exploration, avoiding the increased risks associated with a bilateral exploration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parathyroidectomy can be safely carried out as a day-case procedure in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK. esmond@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: E R M
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Contractor
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Remedios
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D049950:Hyperparathyroidism, Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008131:London; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013667:Technetium; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D013667:Technetium