In this episode from the Endocrine Surgery team at BTK we go through three controversial topics in endocrine surgery and cite pertinent articles during a lively debate format. We debate the role of four-gland exploration versus focused exploration for parathyroid disease. Indications for parathyroidectomy are hotly contested. And finally, we discuss the role and relevance of using a nerve monitor. Tune in to see if Dr. Yeh and Dr. Wu remain collegiate after recording this episode…

Dr. Michael Yeh is a Professor of Surgery at UCLA and serves as Section Chief of the UCLA Endocrine Surgery program which he established.

Dr. Masha Livhits is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at UCLA and works in the Endocrine Surgery Department

Dr. James Wu is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at UCLA and works in the Endocrine Surgery Department

Dr. Vivek Sant is an Endocrine Surgery Fellow at UCLA in his first year of fellowship

Dr. Rivfka Shenoy is a PGY-5 General Surgery Resident at UCLA who has completed two years of research

Dr. Max Schumm is a PGY-5 General Surgery Resident at UCLA who has completed two years of research. He is a future endocrine surgeon.

Important Papers

Norlén O, Wang KC, Tay YK, Johnson WR, Grodski S, Yeung M, Serpell J, Sidhu S, Sywak M, Delbridge L. No need to abandon focused parathyroidectomy: a multicenter study of long-term outcome after surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. Ann Surg. 2015 May;261(5):991-6. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000000715. PMID: 25565223.

Schneider DF, Mazeh H, Sippel RS, Chen H. Is minimally invasive parathyroidectomy associated with greater recurrence compared to bilateral exploration? Analysis of more than 1,000 cases. Surgery. 2012 Dec;152(6):1008-15. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2012.08.022. Epub 2012 Oct 12. PMID: 23063313; PMCID: PMC3501613.

Jinih M, O'Connell E, O'Leary DP, Liew A, Redmond HP. Focused Versus Bilateral Parathyroid Exploration for Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Jul;24(7):1924-1934. doi: 10.1245/s10434-016-5694-1. Epub 2016 Nov 28. PMID: 27896505.

Silverberg SJ, Shane E, Jacobs TP, Siris E, Bilezikian JP. A 10-year prospective study of primary hyperparathyroidism with or without parathyroid surgery. N Engl J Med. 1999 Oct 21;341(17):1249-55. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199910213411701. Erratum in: N Engl J Med 2000 Jan 13;342(2):144. PMID: 10528034.

Seib CD, Meng T, Suh I, Harris AHS, Covinsky KE, Shoback DM, Trickey AW, Kebebew E, Tamura MK. Risk of Fracture Among Older Adults With Primary Hyperparathyroidism Receiving Parathyroidectomy vs Nonoperative Management. JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Jan 1;182(1):10-18. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.6437. PMID: 34842909; PMCID: PMC8630642.

Yeh MW, Zhou H, Adams AL, Ituarte PH, Li N, Liu IL, Haigh PI. The Relationship of Parathyroidectomy and Bisphosphonates With Fracture Risk in Primary Hyperparathyroidism: An Observational Study. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Jun 7;164(11):715-23. doi: 10.7326/M15-1232. Epub 2016 Apr 5. PMID: 27043778.

Zanocco K, Butt Z, Kaltman D, Elaraj D, Cella D, Holl JL, Sturgeon C. Improvement in patient-reported physical and mental health after parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. Surgery. 2015 Sep;158(3):837-45. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2015.03.054. Epub 2015 May 29. PMID: 26032828.

Barczyński M, Konturek A, Cichoń S. Randomized clinical trial of visualization versus neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerves during thyroidectomy. Br J Surg. 2009 Mar;96(3):240-6. doi: 10.1002/bjs.6417. PMID: 19177420.

Please visit behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.

Journal Review in Endocrine Surgery: The Great Debate of UCLA Endocrine Surgery

Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast