Endocrine Surgery - Quick Facts You Must Know!

The endocrine system is a major component of the human body which maintains and regulates secretion and the levels of hormones in our body. These hormonal balances and secretions are necessary for the proper functioning of the different cells of our body.

The major endocrine glands include the pituitary glands, the pineal gland, pancreas, testes, ovaries, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, etc. and all the surgical procedures that are related to these organs are grouped under endocrine surgery. There are a few essential things one needs to know and understand about endocrine surgeries:

Why would you need an endocrine surgery?
The endocrine glands secrete various types of hormones that maintain the proper functioning of different cells of the body. Some hormones are essential for growth, some for maintaining blood glucose levels and proper metabolic rate and some for the growth of sex organs and sexual characters. Disruption in any such function indicates a problem with the endocrine glands.

Endocrine surgery is an uncommon specialty
There are approximately 200 active endocrine surgeons in the US and about 100 abroad. Due to many complexities in this field, there is still a huge scarcity of specialized surgeons and practitioners all over the world. As a result, bulks of such cases are operated by surgeons not specialized in this field of work. Such practices are still considered useful despite the fact that superior outcomes can be achieved if they are performed by specialists.

Procedures related to endocrine surgeries
There are various operative procedures carried out during an endocrine surgery. Depending upon the extent of damage of the endocrine glands and as per the requirements, the procedures may vary. Surgeries include the partial or total removal of the endocrine glands. In the case of thyroid surgeries, the patient is given general anesthesia, and an incision is made in front of the neck. After that, by dividing the muscles, the thyroid gland is cut out. Nowadays less invasive procedures are more commonly practiced.

What are some possible complexities of endocrine surgeries?
Despite the high success rates, there are always complications related to such surgeries. A few of such complications might even cost your life if not treated properly. In the case of thyroid surgeries, there might be occurrences of chest infections, heart problems, blood clotting and infections. Post surgery bleedings may occur and may result in a swollen throat. In some cases, there may be damages to the voice box and parathyroid glands too.

Are endocrine surgeries accessible and affordable?
Endocrine surgeries are specialized surgeries. Although such surgeries are performed by the non-specialists widely, the best results are yielded by the specialized practitioners only. The surgeries are affordable when done by the non-specialised surgeons, but while considering specialized surgeons, similar operations are much costlier due to the scarcity of medical professionals in that field.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!