Hypoparathyroidism is a fairly common endocrine disorder, which is accompanied either by a decrease in the amount of parathyroid hormone, or by the resistance of receptors to it. In any case, such a disease is fraught with dangerous consequences. To date, postoperative hypoparathyroidism is most often diagnosed. According to statistics, quite often a hormonal failure occurs precisely after a surgical operation on the organs of the neck.
Postoperative hypoparathyroidism and its main causes
As a rule, a decrease in the amount of parathyroid hormones develops as a postoperative complication. The reason may be the surgical treatment of diseases of the thyroid gland, in particular its partial or complete removal due to cancer.
In some cases, damage to the parathyroid glands occurs during surgery. But most often, hypoparathyroidism develops in cases where, withThe procedure damaged the main vessels supplying blood to these endocrine glands. On the other hand, sometimes excision of the thyroid gland leads to the formation of fibrous tissues, which also disrupts normal blood flow and trophic organs.
In any case, you should understand that postoperative hypoparathyroidism is an extremely dangerous disease. The fact is that parathyroid hormone maintains a normal balance of calcium and phosphorus. With a decrease in its level, there is a decrease in the concentration of calcium and a simultaneous increase in the amount of phosphorus.
Postoperative hypoparathyroidism: the main symptoms of the disease
In some cases, this disease is chronic and is accompanied by blurred, not too noticeable symptoms. In others, a latent form of the disease is observed, which can only be determined during a complete examination of the body.
It's no secret that electrolyte balance is of the utmost importance. And with a change in the concentration of calcium and phosphorus, a violation of the permeability of cell walls is observed. Postoperative hypoparathyroidism primarily affects the muscles and nervous system.
Muscle cramps are the main symptom of the disease. Such attacks, as a rule, occur several times a week, depending on the amount of parathyroid hormone in the blood. First, patients feel a tingling sensation in the skin, after which intense muscle contractions begin: the upper and lower limbs, as well as facial muscles, most often suffer.
It is worth noting that convulsiveseizures can also be observed in the internal organs. For example, with a spasm of the muscles of the digestive tract, constipation and severe pain in the abdomen are observed. But with spasms of intercostal and diaphragmatic muscle fibers, shortness of breath and impaired respiratory movements appear.
As the disease progresses, the central nervous system is also affected, which is accompanied by mental disorders.
Postoperative hypoparathyroidism: treatment
Unfortunately, it is far from always possible to completely get rid of such a violation. Nevertheless, the prognosis for patients is favorable, since with the help of modern drugs, seizures can be easily prevented.
In particular, anticonvulsant drugs are used for prevention. In some cases, patients are prescribed sedative medications. In addition, it is necessary to take products containing calcium, as well as vitamin D. During an exacerbation, it is extremely important to adhere to an appropriate diet. The diet should consist of foods rich in calcium (milk, cottage cheese, eggs, cheese), but at the same time, food containing phosphorus should be excluded.
