Day surgery

Saving inpatient beds: are day-case total parathyroidectomies possible and safe? (2023)

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Type of publication:Conference abstract

Author(s):*Sultana E.; *McDonald S.; Al-Saadi N.; Chang J.; *Sandhu K.; *Houghton A.

Citation:British Journal of Surgery. Conference: Annual Congress of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. Harrogate United Kingdom. 110(Supplement 6) (pp vi12), 2023.

Abstract:Introduction: Total parathyroidectomy on patients with hyperparathyroidism traditionally required an inpatient hospital stay to monitor patients for postoperative hypocalcaemia. Our centre developed a safe protocol in 2015 which enables total parathyroidectomies to be carried out as a day-case procedure. This protocol, developed in conjunction with the renal physicians, involves giving the patient oral alfacalcidol preoperatively for 5 days and close monitoring of the calcium levels postoperatively to permit safe same day discharge. Method(s): A single centre retrospective study was carried out on all patients who underwent a total parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism between 2005 and 2022. A comparison study was done before and after the protocol was introduced in 2015. Data were collected regarding the patient comorbidities, peri-operative calcium level, post-operative calcium, potassium and parathyroid levels, length of hospital stay, operative procedure details, hospital readmission, and 30-day morbidity. Result(s): 57 patients underwent total parathyroidectomy during the study period (22 before protocol and 35 after the protocol). After introduction of the protocol, 40% of patients were discharged on the same day, compared to only 4.54% previously. The duration of inpatient hospital stay was reduced from 0-13 days to 0-3 days. Reasons for prolonged hospital stay in the remaining patients included refractory hyperkalaemia requiring dialysis, complications secondary to anaesthesia, as well as hypocalcaemia in a few cases. No patient required readmission during the 30-day post-operative period. Conclusion(s): Day-case surgery for total parathyroidectomy can be achieved safely in patients with a preoperative regimen of alfacalcidol and close monitoring of calcium levels post-operatively, emulating a virtual ward round.

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'Daycase parathyroidectomy: Time to change the norm?' (2020)

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Type of publication:
Conference abstract

Author(s):
Chang J.; Neophytou C.; Howard E.; Houghton A.

Citation:
British Journal of Surgery; 2020; vol. 107 ; p. 37

Abstract:
Introduction: The most recent BAETs audit report of 2017 shows a surprisingly low rate of same-day discharge following parathyroidectomy (10%). In our unit we have developed a simple and safe protocol which allows same day discharge for almost all patients (95%). The 2017 BAETS report has 11,463 patients recorded for primary hyperparathyroidism. Following this simple protocol could save over 9,500 inpatient bed days.
Method(s): Demographics, histology, biochemistry and length of stay were identified for all patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism between 01/01/2010 and 31/12/2019. Following surgery all patients were discharged on Calcichew D3 one tablet tds, with arrangements for serum calcium analysis and outpatient appointment at 7 and 10 days Results: We performed 264 parathyroid procedures during the study period. The cohort had a median age of 63 (range 15 – 90). Day-case procedures were carried out in 95% (n=249). 10 patients stayed 24 hours, 4 for 48 hours and 1 patient for 4 days (urgent parathyroidectomy following acute medical admission with symptomatic hypercalcaemia). 1 patient was admitted overnight for observation of bleeding wound (no return to theatre). The remainder were admitted for a mixture of social and anaesthetic reasons. 6 patients (2%) had 30 day morbidity: 2with symptoms of relative hypocalcaemia (not admitted), 1 patient with hypocalcaemia requiring intravenous calcium, 1 seroma, 1 patient presented with an exacerbation of COPD and 1 haematoma.
Conclusion(s): We have shown that same-day discharge after parathyroid surgery is safe and ought to become the norm in other units.

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