Parathyroidectomy (cont.)
What else do you need to know before parathyroidectomy?
Parathyroidectomy usually takes up to three hours. In most
situations, the surgery is performed at a hospital or at an
outpatient surgery center. An anesthesiologist
provides anesthesia and monitors
patients throughout the surgery. The anesthesiologist calls the night before surgery to
review each patient's medical history or
talks to the patient on the morning of the surgery. If preoperative laboratory studies are ordered, they are done several
days before the surgery to allow enough time for the results
to be obtained and sent to the surgeon and anesthesiologist.
Most patients are told not take aspirin or any product
containing aspirin for 10 days prior to surgery in order to prevent aspirin
from increasing bleeding at the time of surgery.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications, or NSAIDs,
(such as Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Aleve, etc.) also are
stopped several days prior to the surgery for the
same reason. It is important to note that many over-the-counter
products contain aspirin or ibuprofen, so it is important that
patients carefully check all medications that they are taking. If
there is any question about a medication, patients should call their doctor's office
or consult with their pharmacist. Tylenol is an
acceptable pain reliever if a pain reliever is needed prior to surgery. Doctors often give patients
their prescriptions for postoperative medications
at the preoperative visit so that they may have them filled prior
to the surgery. Surgeons may advise purchasing calcium-containing antacids such as Tums-Extra Strength tablets in case the blood
calcium drops after surgery and calcium supplements are needed. The amount and duration of supplementation is
determined by the surgeon.
Patients do not eat or drink anything for approximately six hours prior to the
time of surgery. This includes even water, candy, or chewing gum. Anything in
the stomach increases
the chances of an anesthetic complication.
Smokers should make every effort to
stop smoking
(or at least reduce the number of daily cigarettes). This may improve
the healing process and reduce postoperative coughing and bleeding.
Next: What about care after parathyroidectomy? »
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