Advantages of Minimally Invasive Radioguided Parathyroid Surgery

From:http://parathyroid.com/mini-surgery.htm

Less anesthesia, almost no patients have to be intubated (a tube into your trachea) and put on a breathing machine typical of general anesthesia.0.5 to 1.25 inch incision instead of 6 to 9 inch incision (average is 1 inch).Usually 16-18 minutes (average) in the operating room vs. 3 to 5 hours.Zero risk to nerves and other structures on the "normal" side of the neck.Less than 1/2 of the potential complications than the standard operation even when standard operation is performed by very experienced endocrine surgeons.Much smaller overall operation so less pain (only Tylenol or Motrin needed).Return to normal activities almost always by the next day.Almost always home in an hour or 2 (vs. 1 or possibly 2 days in the hospital).Get out of the hospital and avoid hospital acquired infections and hospital errors.Almost all patients go out to eat the evening of surgery.Significantly less expensive than the standard operation. *Cure rate significantly higher than the standard operation (our cure rate is currently 99.4%).Dramatically reduced chance of surgery not helping the problem.Near zero risk of hypoparathyroidism (a rare complication seen when all parathyroids are removed)Normal parathyroid glands are not removed (the probe and experience prevents this!).Can still examine the thyroid and remove thyroid nodules if necessary.