Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
03:57
Generation of Hypoparathyroid Rats via Carbon-Nanoparticle-Assisted Parathyroidectomy
Published on: July 14, 2023
2.2K
An Institutional experience with primary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly over two decades
Kayla O'Sullivan1, Tina W F Yen1, Kara Doffek1
1Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
American Journal of Surgery
|February 8, 2021
Summary
Parathyroidectomy is a safe and effective treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) in elderly patients. This study found no increased risk of complications in older individuals undergoing the procedure.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Oncology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is curable with parathyroidectomy, a procedure with low morbidity.
- Assessing disease severity and surgical outcomes in elderly patients undergoing parathyroidectomy is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the severity of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and parathyroidectomy outcomes in elderly patients (age ≥75 years).
- To evaluate trends in disease severity and surgical outcomes over time in different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients with sporadic pHPT undergoing initial parathyroidectomy.
- Patients were categorized into three timeframes: 1999-2007, 2007-2012, and 2013-2018.
- Comparison of preoperative calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, and postoperative complication rates between age groups.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients showed a trend of decreasing preoperative calcium and PTH levels over the study periods.
- No significant differences were observed in preoperative calcium levels between age groups.
- Rates of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hypoparathyroidism, and persistent/recurrent pHPT did not differ by age.
Conclusions:
- Elderly patients with pHPT exhibited progressively lower calcium and PTH levels over time.
- Parathyroidectomy is a safe procedure in the elderly, with no increased endocrine-specific complications compared to younger patients.
- Age should not be a barrier to parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism.
Related Concept Videos
00:59The Parathyroid Glands
3.5K
The two pairs of parathyroid glands embedded within the posterior surface of the thyroid gland are restricted by a dense capsule around them. These glands comprise two distinct cell populations—parathyroid oxyphil and parathyroid principal cells- pivotal in calcium homeostasis.
Oxyphil cells, whose functions remain elusive, emerge during late puberty, adding a layer of complexity to the parathyroid gland's intricacies. In contrast, principal parathyroid cells undertake a vital role by...
Oxyphil cells, whose functions remain elusive, emerge during late puberty, adding a layer of complexity to the parathyroid gland's intricacies. In contrast, principal parathyroid cells undertake a vital role by...
3.5K
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
103
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
103
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
144
In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
144
01:24Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
337
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) progressively impairs multiple body systems due to the accumulation of uremic toxins, which disrupt cellular functions across various organs.Neurologic symptomsNeurologic symptoms often arise early in CKD, as uremic toxin buildup drives changes in cognitive and motor functions. Patients frequently experience fatigue, headache, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and, in severe cases, seizures. Peripheral neuropathy commonly manifests as burning sensations in the...
337
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
96
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
96
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
78
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
78