Subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy: retrospective patient-centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis population

Abstract Background Hyperparathyroidism occurs commonly in the dialysis population, and surgical parathyroidectomy (PTx) is often required when medical therapy to suppress parathyroid hormone (PTH) fails. Surgical techniques include subtotal and total PTx, with or without auto-transplantation, with...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Raymond Lin, Mirna Vucak-Dzumhur, Eva Wong, Hsiang Chung, Grahame J. Elder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Nephrology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04335-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849237735398703104
author Raymond Lin
Mirna Vucak-Dzumhur
Eva Wong
Hsiang Chung
Grahame J. Elder
author_facet Raymond Lin
Mirna Vucak-Dzumhur
Eva Wong
Hsiang Chung
Grahame J. Elder
author_sort Raymond Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Hyperparathyroidism occurs commonly in the dialysis population, and surgical parathyroidectomy (PTx) is often required when medical therapy to suppress parathyroid hormone (PTH) fails. Surgical techniques include subtotal and total PTx, with or without auto-transplantation, with the choice of procedure generally determined by surgical preference rather than patient-related factors. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of these surgical procedures, focusing on post-operative utilization of hospital resources, and biochemical and patient-level outcomes over the year following surgery. Methods This retrospective observational study included dialysis patients undergoing subtotal or total PTx (± auto-transplant) over 9-years at three tertiary-level hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Laboratory and patient-level-outcomes were compared immediately post-operatively and at one, three and 12-months. Results Of 64 dialysis patients undergoing PTx, 60.9% were male and the mean dialysis vintage was 5.9 (4.2) years. Total PTx was performed in 51, 46 with auto-transplantation, and subtotal PTx in 13. Patient characteristics were similar at baseline. Compared to subtotal PTx, total PTx resulted in lower post-operative calcium values (p = 0.01), higher intravenous calcium requirements (p = 0.03) and more frequent admission to intensive care (p = 0.03). After total PTx, the daily calcium and calcitriol pill burden at discharge was higher (median 25 (IQR 20–40) vs. 18 (IQR 6–26), p = 0.04) and at 3-months (p = 0.01), and 23.5% of patients were readmitted for calcium management (p = 0.05). At 12-months, more patients undergoing subtotal PTx had PTH values above guideline recommendations (42.9% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.02), pill burdens did not differ, and bone mineral density increased in both groups. Conclusions Total PTx requires greater post-operative resources but is associated with lower PTH values at 12-months, whereas subtotal PTx is associated with a lower pill burden but increased hyperparathyroidism recurrence. A tailored strategy is suggested, matching the surgical approach to patient needs.
format Article
id doaj-art-ffbaa3993100463c86ecfbcedc26f7ef
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2369
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Nephrology
spelling doaj-art-ffbaa3993100463c86ecfbcedc26f7ef2025-08-20T04:01:52ZengBMCBMC Nephrology1471-23692025-07-012611810.1186/s12882-025-04335-5Subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy: retrospective patient-centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis populationRaymond Lin0Mirna Vucak-Dzumhur1Eva Wong2Hsiang Chung3Grahame J. Elder4Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneyDepartment of Renal Medicine, Westmead HospitalFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneyDepartment of General Surgery, Nepean HospitalFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneyAbstract Background Hyperparathyroidism occurs commonly in the dialysis population, and surgical parathyroidectomy (PTx) is often required when medical therapy to suppress parathyroid hormone (PTH) fails. Surgical techniques include subtotal and total PTx, with or without auto-transplantation, with the choice of procedure generally determined by surgical preference rather than patient-related factors. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of these surgical procedures, focusing on post-operative utilization of hospital resources, and biochemical and patient-level outcomes over the year following surgery. Methods This retrospective observational study included dialysis patients undergoing subtotal or total PTx (± auto-transplant) over 9-years at three tertiary-level hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Laboratory and patient-level-outcomes were compared immediately post-operatively and at one, three and 12-months. Results Of 64 dialysis patients undergoing PTx, 60.9% were male and the mean dialysis vintage was 5.9 (4.2) years. Total PTx was performed in 51, 46 with auto-transplantation, and subtotal PTx in 13. Patient characteristics were similar at baseline. Compared to subtotal PTx, total PTx resulted in lower post-operative calcium values (p = 0.01), higher intravenous calcium requirements (p = 0.03) and more frequent admission to intensive care (p = 0.03). After total PTx, the daily calcium and calcitriol pill burden at discharge was higher (median 25 (IQR 20–40) vs. 18 (IQR 6–26), p = 0.04) and at 3-months (p = 0.01), and 23.5% of patients were readmitted for calcium management (p = 0.05). At 12-months, more patients undergoing subtotal PTx had PTH values above guideline recommendations (42.9% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.02), pill burdens did not differ, and bone mineral density increased in both groups. Conclusions Total PTx requires greater post-operative resources but is associated with lower PTH values at 12-months, whereas subtotal PTx is associated with a lower pill burden but increased hyperparathyroidism recurrence. A tailored strategy is suggested, matching the surgical approach to patient needs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04335-5Subtotal parathyroidectomyTotal parathyroidectomyAuto-transplantationHyperparathyroidismDialysisBone mineral density
spellingShingle Raymond Lin
Mirna Vucak-Dzumhur
Eva Wong
Hsiang Chung
Grahame J. Elder
Subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy: retrospective patient-centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis population
BMC Nephrology
Subtotal parathyroidectomy
Total parathyroidectomy
Auto-transplantation
Hyperparathyroidism
Dialysis
Bone mineral density
title Subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy: retrospective patient-centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis population
title_full Subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy: retrospective patient-centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis population
title_fullStr Subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy: retrospective patient-centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis population
title_full_unstemmed Subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy: retrospective patient-centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis population
title_short Subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy: retrospective patient-centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis population
title_sort subtotal versus total parathyroidectomy retrospective patient centric outcomes in a chronic dialysis population
topic Subtotal parathyroidectomy
Total parathyroidectomy
Auto-transplantation
Hyperparathyroidism
Dialysis
Bone mineral density
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04335-5
work_keys_str_mv AT raymondlin subtotalversustotalparathyroidectomyretrospectivepatientcentricoutcomesinachronicdialysispopulation
AT mirnavucakdzumhur subtotalversustotalparathyroidectomyretrospectivepatientcentricoutcomesinachronicdialysispopulation
AT evawong subtotalversustotalparathyroidectomyretrospectivepatientcentricoutcomesinachronicdialysispopulation
AT hsiangchung subtotalversustotalparathyroidectomyretrospectivepatientcentricoutcomesinachronicdialysispopulation
AT grahamejelder subtotalversustotalparathyroidectomyretrospectivepatientcentricoutcomesinachronicdialysispopulation