[Intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring in neck exploration for renal hyperparathyroidism?]

In operations for renal hyperparathyroidism the value of intraoperative parathormone monitoring was investigated.

Intraoperative intact parathyroid hormone levels were determined (PTH Quick assay) in 40 patients undergoing first cervical exploration and in two patients with graft-dependent recurrence of renal hyperparathyroidism.

In 33 patients, total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation was carried out. The median parathormone levels decreased from 652 pg/ml to 120 pg/ml (19% of initial level) 5 min after total parathyroidectomy. In seven patients, fewer than 4 parathyroid glands each were identified during cervical exploration and "total parathyroidectomy (?)" without autotransplantation was performed. Intraoperatively median parathormone level decreased from 1193 pg/ml to 116 pg/ml (10% of initial level). In one of these seven patients, hyperparathyroidism persisted due to an ectopic fourth gland within the carotid sheath. In two of these patients, hypoparathyroidism occurred and a delayed autotransplantation of cryopreserved parathyroid tissue was carried out. On the first day after total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation and "total parathyroidectomy (?)", median levels of intact parathyroid hormone were 1.9 pg/ml and 82.5 pg/ml, respectively.

Intraoperative monitoring is not useful in first cervical exploration for renal hyperparathyroidism because it cannot predict complete resection of parathyroid tissue. The parathormone level on the first postoperative day allows precise evaluation of the efficacy of the surgical procedure.