[Secondary hyperparathyroidism: subtotal parathyroidectomy versus total parathyroidectomy with parathyroid...

Between 1967 and 1978, among more than 1 000 patients under haemodialysis, 66 who had severe secondary hyperparathyroidism, underwent parathyroidectomy (PTx). Subtotal PTx's were performed in 57 patients and total PTx's immediately followed by autotransplantation of parathyroid gland fragments in 9 patients. The patients operated upon by these two methods since 1976 were compared. Among the 10 patients who had undergone subtotal PTx recurrence of severe biological hyperparathyroidism was observed in four cases and permanent hypoparathyroidism in two cases. Among the 9 patients with total PTx and immediate autotransplantation only one was considered as suffering from recurrent hyperparathyroidism on account of increased plasma parathyroid hormone concentrations; none of the other patients in this group had hypoparathyroidism. On follow-up, the clinical and radiological findings were comparable in both groups. At the present moment, our choice of surgical method remains arbitrary. Total PTx with immediate autotransplantation is carried out in all cases of reexploration of the neck, in patients who do not comply with the proposed medical treatment and when surgery reveals grossly enlarged parathyroid glands. In all other cases we continue to perform subtotal PTx.