Parathyroidectomy under Local Anesthesia: A Case Report

A fifty four years old lady presented with severe generalized bone pain, having history of multiple fractures for the last two years, biochemical tests proved to be primary hyperparathyroidism and parathyroid adenoma localized with ultrasonography. Parathyroidectomy was carried out under local anesthesia, and the patient improved dramatically after surgery.

On examination, the patient look ill, bed ridden, cannot move here limbs with external rotation an deformity of both thighs. Left forearm was deformed, she refused any trail of passive or active movement, tenderness all over the bones, on physical examination pulse rate was 78 per minute, blood pressure was 110/70 mm mg, respiratory rate 18 per minute, abdomen soft and there is no palpable masses. A nodule of three cm diameter was found below the level of the thyroid cartilage on left side, there was no palpable lymphadenopathy in the submandibular region, no other palpable neck swelling detected.
Radiological examination of both thighs showed marked osteoporosis and multiple osteolytic lesions and cystic changes in bones. Left femur shows internal fixation by plate and screws and cystic changes in bones, right femur shows multiple cystic changes with malunited fracture in lower femur and marked osteoporosis (Fig. 1).
Pelvic x-ray shows deformity of pelvis and fracture right femoral neck with varus deformity, left femoral neck shows varus deformity of head. Left forearm show malunited fracture of distal radius and ulna with marked osteoporosis. Hand x-ray shows cortical resorption of the middle phalanges which is pathognomonic for primary hyperparathyroidism (Fig. 2).   adrenaline) was carried out with cervical plexus block, skin prepared for surgery, and through a transverse cervical collar incision, the cervical fascia is divided and muscles retracted. The thyroid gland lobes dissected and lobes retracted medially, recurrent laryngeal nerves and blood vessels identified. The adenoma of left inferior parathyroid gland identified, the other parathyroid glandes identified and look normal, the glandes excised except the deep half of right superior parathyroid gland, hemostasis carried out and wound closed in layers. Intraoperative measurement of parathyroid hormone in not applied in our patient because it is not available at time of surgery.
Intravenous fluid was given postoperatively with 10 gram calcium gluconate on fusion, daily 600000 IU of one alpha cholecalceferol intramuscularly, with repeated measurement of serum calcium in first and second postoperative days. In third postoperative day patient felt well, and she can swallow without any difficulty with normal voice, serum parathyroid hormone was 8.4 pg/ml, patient discharged on 6 gram oral calcium carbonate given with 0.5 µgm one alpha cholecalceferol daily, and the patient advised to drink a lot of water to maintain hydration. Histopathological examination of removed nodule confirmed the diagnosis of parathyroid adenoma. Two weeks later patient reported marked absence of bone pain, with normal serum calcium, phosphate and parathyroid hormone. The patient followed up monthly for consecutive three months, the serum calcium, phosphate and parathyroid hormone maintained normal, and the bone re-mineralized gradually.

DISCUSSION
The delay in diagnosis and treatment is expected in our local community with marked deficiency in medical care after years of destructive war in our region and wide deficiency of medical facilities. In our patient, the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism was dependent on blood biochemistry , neck ultrasonography was utilized for localization of adenoma due to absences of other localization method in our medical facilities. Ultrasonography is a sensitive, specific, and costeffective imaging modality for preoperative localization, and evaluation of parathyroid adenoma size 8,9,10 . Ultrasonography had comparable accuracy to nuclear medicine -based studies (Sestambi scanning), CT scan had disadvantage of excessive irradiation, MRI is not commonly used to image the parathyroid gland 8,9,10 . Venous sampling and parathyroid angiography and applied for recurrence 10 .
Musculoskeletal system remains the most common system affected due to primary hyperparathyroidism followed by renal and gastrointestinal system 8 . Parathyroidectomy is successful in all patients of primary hyperparathyroidism 10,11 . Indication for surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism, are marked unremitting hypercalcaemia, recurrent renal stones, nephrocalcinosis and sever bone changes 1,6,8 . Excision of adenoma containing parathyroid is good option in treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism, but this diagnosis can be misleading in patients with history of chronic renal disease 6,8 . For this we excised two and half of other three normal looking parathyroid glands to minimize the risk of recurrence 6,8 . We used local anesthesia in our patient because she was unfit to general anesthesia, the local anesthesia is safe, easy to used , and reduce the complications and cost of surgery 10 .
Postoperative calcium supplementation is essential to prevent development of hypocalcemia. Active derivative of vitamin D should be given preoperatively and postoperatively to maintain normal level of calcium 12,13 . Normal level of serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone in postoperative follow-up considered as full success of surgical treatment 7,13,14 . Lastly we should be aware about possibility of hyperparathyroidism if there is pathological fractures or generalized bone pain.