Parathyroidectomy in chronic renal failure: comparison of three operative strategies

The efficacy of subtotal parathyroidectomy (n = 11), total parathyroidectomy+autotransplantation (n = 13) and total parathyroidectomy alone (n = 24) were compared in a series of renal patients with hyperparathyroidism. The principal indication for surgery was severe bone disease but other indications were uncontrolled hypercalcaemia, soft tissue calcification and grossly elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. The clinical success rates at 24 months follow-up for subtotal, total plus autograft, and total parathyroidectomy were 100, 89 and 97% respectively. Similar improvements in radiological changes and alkaline phosphatase levels were seen in all three groups. Recurrent hyperparathyroidism was recorded in three (27%) members of the subtotal parathyroidectomy group and two (16%) of the patients undergoing total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation. Two patients required re-exploration of their forearm parathyroid autograft. No patients undergoing total parathyroidectomy only suffered persistent or recurrent hypercalcaemia. Vitamin D analogue requirements rates in patients undergoing subtotal, total plus autotransplant, and total parathyroidectomy at 24 months were 44, 70 and 81% respectively. An important finding is the demonstration of residual parathyroid function in 14/16 patients (87.5%) undergoing total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation and followed-up for 2 years.