How to care for patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is the third most common endocrine condition. Initial symptoms can be vague, leading to problems in other body systems before diagnosis; if it remains undiagnosed, it can lead to a life threatening parathyroid crisis. This in itself provides challenges to nurses working in surgical and endocrine specialties, and a thorough understanding of physiology is essential to ensure safe practice and promote good patient outcomes. This article discusses the pathophysiology of primary hyperparathyroidism and the care of patients with the condition.