Endocrine Surgery
The endocrine system is made up of organs called glands that are responsible for producing and releasing different hormones throughout the body. Surgery is an option for many endocrine-related conditions, from thyroid cancer to an overactive gland.
The surgeons at Advanced Robotics of Louisiana specialize in minimally invasive techniques to address endocrine disorders and cancers. Our endocrine surgery program is focused on three main areas – the adrenal glands, parathyroid glands, and thyroid gland.
Adrenal Glands
Adrenal glands are small glands that rest on the kidneys. They secrete hormones that assist with blood pressure control as well as electrolyte control. Small tumors can develop in the adrenal glands and overproduce these hormones. These can be diagnosed with labs, CT scans, as well as MRI. Your endocrinologist will refer you to a surgeon for removal.
Surgeons at the Robotics Institute of Louisiana can remove the adrenal gland with the tumor robotically. The surgery usually takes about two hours, and most patients go home within two days.
ParaThyroId Glands
The parathyroid glands are small glands located under the thyroid gland. The primary function of these glands is to assist in calcium metabolism. Most patients will have four of these rice-sized glands, two on each side of the neck.
Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism is when one of the parathyroid glands begins to function independently, usually because of a benign tumor called an adenoma. As a result, you’ll have elevated calcium levels and elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, which can result in kidney stones and worsening osteoporosis. You may also experience fatigue and insomnia, and feel like drinking lots of water.
This condition is diagnosed by your primary care doctor who will usually refer you to an endocrinologist for evaluation, including labs, a neck ultrasound, and usually a special scan to identify which of the parathyroid glands is hyperfunctioning.
Surgery for hyperparathyroidism requires removing the abnormal parathyroid gland. This procedure takes about an hour, and most patients will go home the same day. You won’t have to take any special medications post-operatively and usually can return to work within a week.
Thyroid Glands
While most thyroid nodules are not cancerous and don’t require surgery, that’s not always the case. Most cancerous nodules need to be removed, and some benign nodules require surgery when they get too large and cause issues swallowing or breathing, or turn into a cosmetic issue.
The Advanced Robotics of Louisiana offers surgical management for certain thyroid gland diseases, including thyroid lobectomy, total thyroidectomy, and selective lymph node dissection. Our team of surgeons will work closely with your primary care physician and endocrinologist to determine which procedure is best for your condition.
Most thyroid surgeries will take 1.5 to 2 hours and one night in the hospital. Some patients may require long-term thyroid replacement medications depending on the procedure performed.
Thyroid Conditions we treat
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Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid is an option for the treatment of Graves’ disease, an immune system disorder that causes an overproduction of thyroid hormones. After the surgery, patients usually need treatment to supply the body with normal amounts of thyroid hormones.
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Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland. It usually results in a decline in hormone production.
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A goiter is an irregular growth of the thyroid gland. You may need surgery to remove all of part of the thyroid gland depending on your situation and specific complications.
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Thyroid nodules are lumps that form within your thyroid gland. They’re common and usually noncancerous. Surgical removal is a common treatment for cancerous nodules. But, even if they’re noncancerous, if the nodules are big enough to affect breathing or swallowing, they’d likely require surgery.
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Most types of thyroid cancer grow slowly, but some types can be very aggressive and may travel to the lymph nodes. Most people with thyroid cancer that requires treatment will undergo surgery to remove all (thyroidectomy) or part (thyroid lobectomy) of the thyroid.
Meet Our Surgeons
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V. Keith Rhynes, MD
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John J. Tabor, MD
Become a Patient
Complete our contact form or call (225) 333-3800 to connect with our team at Advanced Robotics of Louisiana to learn if robotic surgery is the right approach for you.