BACKGROUND
Endoscopic neck surgery is becoming more widespread and popular all over the world. Endoscopic parathyroidectomy is a worthy analogue of open parathyroidectomy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of endoscopic parathyroidectomy in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and to determine the advantages of this method compared to open parathyroidectomy (OP).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients, divided into two groups. The first group included 16 patients who underwent endoscopic parathyroidectomy (EP), while the second group consisted of 14 patients who underwent traditional open parathyroidectomy between September 2023 and April 2024. All patients underwent ultrasound examination of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, scintigraphy, and SPECT/CT of the parathyroid glands. Treatment outcomes were assessed based on surgical efficacy, need for conversion, complication rates, early recovery, and cosmetic results. The choice of surgical method was based on the location and size of the lesion, as well as individual body characteristics of the patient. All patients were informed about possible complications and risks, and signed informed consent forms.
RESULTS
The proportion of younger patients in the endoscopic group was higher than in the open surgery group, and the difference was statistically significant (54.2±11.5 years vs. 63.5±18.0 years, p<0.05). Differences in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, and surgical effectiveness between the two groups were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Aesthetic evaluation of the postoperative scar was significantly better in the endoscopic group compared to the open surgery group.
CONCLUSION
EP is an excellent surgical option for PHPT with a single adenoma. However, it cannot yet be stated that the endoscopic method is superior to open surgery, due to the small patient sample and short postoperative follow-up period. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate this technique as an alternative to the classic open approach.