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HARMONIC SCALPEL POSSIBILITIES IN THESURGICAL TREATMENT OF SECONDARYHYPERPARATHYROIDISM

Rumen Nenkov, Radoslav Radev, Ekaterina Marinova, Nikolay Cvetkov, AnatoliSemkov, Borislav PetrovDepartment of Thoracic surgery, UMHAT “St. Marina”,Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria.

Journal of IMAB - Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers) 2013, vol. 19, issue 1

ABSTRACT:The significant changes in coagulation status

during chroniodialysis, performed in patients withsecondary hyperparathyroidism require completion ofmeticulous surgical hemostasis in order to prevent activebleeding in the postoperative period.

Aim: To present our experience with harmonicscalpel application in the surgical treatment of secondaryhyperparathyroidism.

Patients and Methods: 112 patients with secondaryhyperparathyroidism (77 males and 35 females, aged from23 to 60 years) have been operated on in our institutionfor 10 years period. All patients were on chroniodialysis.Hemostasis was achieved using conventional instrumentsand electrocautery in 46 patients and in 66 patientsharmonic scalpel of Ethicon EndoSurgeryCare has beenused. All patients had serum levels of parathormone above2500ng/l. Ultrasonic examination revealed at least 2parathyroid glands larger than 10mm in all cases. Theamount of blood loss, necessity and type of drainagesused, frequency of postoperative complications,postoperative hospital stay were comparatively evaluated.

Results: In 12 patients parathyroidectomy withautotransplantation was carried out, in 62 patients subtotalparathyroidectomy was performed. In the rest 35 cases-three of the parathyroid glands were removed (because ofthe impossibility to identify the fourth parathyroid gland,using ultrasonic and intraoperative methods). All patientswere proven to have a sharp decrease in parathormone andCalcium serum levels. In the group of patients, whereconventional instruments and electrocautery forhemostasis have been used, corrugated and tube drainageswere applied as a rule. For the patients, in whomhemostasis was performed using a harmonic scalpel, simpleglove drainages were used. In all patients in the pre-operative and post-operative period serial hemodialysiswas done with LMW heparin administration. Significantlylower blood loss from the surgical wound was found in

the group, where harmonic scission was used.Conclusions: We consider that the application of

harmonic scalpel in the surgical treatment of patients withsecondary hyperparathyroidism on chroniodialysis leadsto safer hemostasis, lower postoperative complications rateand thus shortens the postoperative hospital stay.

Key words: secondary hyperparathyroidism,harmonic scalpel, surgery, autotransplantation.

The secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is acommon complication in patients with chronic renal failure.Around 40% of patients on chroniodialysis, after a 15 yearsperiod undergo parathyroidectomy1. During the last 30years several surgical strategies for the treatment of SHPTwere developed: subtotal parathyroidectomy was firstpublished by Stanbury et al . in 1960 [2], totalparathyroidectomy by Ogg in 1967 [3] and totalparathyroidectomy with autotransplantation by Geis et al.in 1973 [4].

The surgical treatment requires completion ofmeticulous surgical hemostasis in order to prevent activebleeding as a consequence of the changes in coagulationstatus during dialysis. This paper aims to present theexperience of our institution with harmonic scalpelapplication in the surgical treatment of SHPT.

PATIENTS AND METHODSFor a 10 years period 112 patients with secondary

hyperparathyroidism (77 males and 35 females, aged from23 to 60 years) underwent surgery in our clinic. All patientshave been on chroniodialysis since one to fifteen yearsbefore the procedure.

In 46 patients the surgical treatment and hemostasiswere performed using conventional equipment and in 66 –using harmonic scalpel (Ethicon EndoSurgery Care) /Fig.1/:

ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)

DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2013191.412

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Fig. 1. Distribution of patients with hyperparathyroidism operated on with conventional instruments and withharmonic scalpel.

All patients had serum levels of parathormone above2500 ng/L. Ultrasonography revealed at least two parathyroidglands, above 10 mm in size.

Comparative assessment of intraoperative blood loss,quality of achieved hemostasis, necessity and type of useddrainages, rate of postoperative complications and lengthof postoperative hospital stay has been made.

RESULTSIn 77 patients 4 to 6 hyperplastic parathyroid glands

have been detected, from 7 to 25 mm in size /Fig. 2/.

Fig. 2. Number of detected parathyroid glands.

In 15 patients parathyroidectomy with autotransplan-tation was performed /Fig. 3/.

Fig. 3. Parathyroidectomy with prepared forautotransplantation part of right upper parathyroid gland /arrow/.

Subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed in 62patients /Fig. 4/.

Fig. 4. Subtotal parathyroidectomy.

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In the remaining 35 cases three parathyroid glandshave been removed because of inability to identify the fourthparathyroid during the diagnostic evaluation orintraoperatively (Table 1).

In the patients group where conventional instrumentsand electrocautery have been used, the degree ofhemostasis was worse, which lead to the need fromcorrugated or tubular drainages, usually removed after thesecond postoperative dialysis. In the group with harmonicscalpel use, the intraoperative hemostasis is much better andthere was no need for vessel ligatures and the procedurefinished as a rule with insertion of gloves drainages. Thebleeding

established after the first postop dialysis wassignificantly larger in the group with conventionalinstruments and electrocautery. The monitoring of serumlevels of parathormone and calcium on the 24th hourdemonstrated sharp decrease in their values.

The discharge from the hospital in the group withconventional instruments and electrocautery was not earlierthan after the second postoperative dialysis and in theharmonic scalpel group it occurred earlier - after the firstpostoperative dialysis.

DISCUSSIONSecondary hyperparathyroidism is a mineral

homeostasis disturbance predominantly in patients withchronic renal diseases [5, 6, 7]. As a consequence of therenal failure, retention of phosphates, vitamin D deficiencyand hypocalcaemia occur, leading to pathological increasein parathormone secretion [7].

The pathogenesis of this parathyroid disease is notsill completely clear. In the earlier stage of the disease apolyclonal hyperplasia of parathyroid cells is usually found.For later stages of secondary hyperparathyroidismneoplastic transformation of preexisting polyclonalhyperplasia to monoclonal zones is typical which probablyplays leading role in the course of the disease.

Total parathyroidectomy is recommended in patientswith hyperparathyroidism refractory to medical treatment [5,8].

The indications to perform parathyroidectomy are still

not well defined. There is a lack of studies, which couldundoubtedly point the biochemical markers of lack ofefficiency from the medicated treatment and requiringsurgical intervention to control the hyperparathyroidism.Classic indication for surgical parathyroidectomy is themedication treatment resistant hypercalcemia andhyperphosphatemia in combination with severehyperparathyroidism (erum level of PTH 8 fold above thenormal range). The severe hypercalcemia with PTH above55 pmol/l is still considered an absolute indication forparathyroidectomy [9, 10].

The objectives of the surgical treatment of secondaryhyperparathyroidism are to eliminate the symptoms of PTHoverproduction, meanwhile escaping the postoperativehypocalcemia as a result of the lack of parathyroid tissue.

Preservation of adequate volume remnant parathyroidtissue (0,5 õ 0,5 õ 0,5 ñm tissue or 60-100 mg) is of crucialimportance [11].

Two main surgical techniques are in use: Subtotalparathyroidectomy and total parathyroidectomy withautotransplantation.

The total parathyroidectomy without auto-transplantation would result in a complete deficiency ofparathormone, which requires lifelong substitution withcalcium and vitamin D and may have significant impact onthe bone mineralization. That is the reason for thistechnique has been abandoned by most of the surgeons [5].

To reach the posterior surface of the thyroid glandwhere the parathyroids are located, particularly precise andbloodless dissection is necessary, in the situation ofimpaired coagulation status.

The success of the surgical treatment dependsexceptionally on: 1) the successful identification of allparathyroid glands and 2) the possibility to leave an optimalamount of remnant parathyroid tissue.

Leaving parathyroid remnants in an exceeding orinsufficient amount may lead to serious complications orrecurrence of the SPTH [1]. Maximal success in the

SUBTOTAL REMOVAL OF THREEPARATHYROIDECTOMY PARATHYROIDECTOMY PARATHYROID GLANDS

WITH CONVENTIONALEQUIPMENT 4 27 15WITH HARMONICSCALPEL 11 35 20

Òable 1. Extent of surgical intervention using conventional equipment and harmonic scalpel.

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1. Fassbinder W, Brunner FP,Brynger H, Ehrich JH, Geerlings W,Raine AE, et al. Combined report onregular dialysis and transplantation inEurope. XX, 1989. Nephrol DialTransplant. 1991; 6(Suppl 1):5 –35.[PubMed]

2. Stanbury SW, Lumb GA,Nicholson WF. Elective subtotalparathyroidectomy for renal hyper-parathyroidism. Lancet. 1960 Apr 9;1(7128):793–799. [PubMed]

3. Ogg CS. Total parathyroidectomyin treatment of secondary (renal)hyperparathyroidism. Br Med J. 1967Nov 11;4(5575):331–334. [PubMed]

4. Geis WP, Popovtzer MM, CormanJL, Halgrimson CG, Groth CG, Starzi TE.The diagnosis and treatment ofhyperparathyroidism after renal

Address for correspondence:Rumen Nenkov M.D., PhDClinic of Thoracic Surgery, UMHAT “St. Marina”, VarnaMedical University “Prof. Paraskev Stoyanov”, Varna1, Hristo Smirnenski str., Varna, BulgariaE-mail: nenkovrn@hotmail.com;

REFERENCES:homotransplantation. Surg GynecolObstet 1973 Dec;137(6):997–1010.[PubMed]

5. Daniel Oertli, Robert Udelsman.Surgery of the Thyroid and ParathyroidGlands. Springer-Verlag BerlinHeidelberg. 2007. [CrossRef]

6. Ogi S, Fukumitsu N, UchiyamaM, Mori Y, Takeyama H. Theusefulness of radio-guided surgery, insecondary hyperparathyroidism, AnnNucl Med. 2004 Feb;18(1):69-71.[PubMed]

7. Silver J, Kilav R, Naveh-Many T.Mechanisms of secondary hyperpara-thyroidism, Am J Physiol Renal Physiol2002 Sep;283(3):F367-76. [PubMed]

8. Leapman SB, Filo RS, ThomallaJV, King D. Secondary hyperpara-thyroidism. The role of surgery. Am

Surg. 1989 Jun;55(6):359-65. [PubMed]9. Jorge Cannata-Andia JP-DER

(2000) Management of the renal patient:experts’ recommendations and clinicalalgorithms on renal osteodystrophyand cardiovascular risk factors.Nephrol Dial Transplant 15:S1–S154.[CrossRef]

10. National Kidney Foundation. K/DOQI clinical practice guidelines forbone metabolism and disease in chronickidney disease. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003Oct;42(4 Suppl 3):S1-201. [PubMed]

11. Chou FF, Lee CH, Chen HY,Chen JB, Hsu KT, Sheen-Chen SM.Persistent and recurrent hyperpara-thyroidism after total para-thyroidectomy with autotransplanta-tion. Ann Surg. 2002 Jan;235(1):99-104. [PubMed]

parathyroid glands identification is achieved with theintraoperative use of radio-guided probe [6].

The harmonic scalpel use permits to perform allprocedures after the initial skin incision, including tissuelamination, dissection and hemostasis with adequateprecision and without bleeding. The extirpation of theparathyroid glands after theirs localization is also performedusing the harmonic scalpel. Only in the performance ofsubtotal parathyroidectomy, when an amount of 60mgparathyroid remnant from the smallest parathyroid glandmust be leaved, we use fine instruments to avoid necrosisin the remnant tissue if harmonic scalpel has been used.

The hemostasis achieved with harmonic scalpel useis better and there was not bleeding during the next dialysisin contrast to the patients where conventional instrumentsand ligatures have been used. The latter cases requiremandatory use of corrugated or tube drainages, as well as

prolonged hospital stay for this patients group.In the available literature we did not found any report

concerning the harmonic scalpel use in the surgicaltreatment of the secondary hyperparathyroidism. Theobservations from our practice about the good quality ofhemostasis with harmonic scalpel use, as well as the lackof complications, gives us the reason to propose thistechnique as a routine in the surgical treatment ofsecondary hyperparathyroidism.

CONCLUSIONSWe consider the harmonic scalpel application in the

surgical treatment of patients with secondaryhyperparathyroidism and on chroniodialysis leads to betterand secure hemostasis, reduced postoperative complicationsrate and shortened postoperative hospital stay.