Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism performed under local anaesthesia.

Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism are often elderly with cardiovascular disease and in some an operation might be hazardous owing to anaesthetic complications. A technique for operation for primary hyperparathyroidism under local anaesthesia is described. The method uses a unilateral approach. Seventeen consecutive patients operated on under local anaesthesia were compared with a group of 15 patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia. Normocalcaemia was achieved in 14 patients in each group. There was no difference in the extent of pain or the overall well-being between the two groups as determined by a visual analogue scale. Patients receiving local anaesthesia, however, experienced significantly less nausea after operation (P < 0.01). There was more fluctuation in blood pressure and heart rate in the general anaesthesia group compared with the other group. Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism can be performed safely under local anaesthesia, and could be offered to patients if general anaesthesia were not suitable or involved an increased perioperative risk. It should not be recommended for routine use in patients who are fit for general anaesthesia.