Endocrine Surgery is evolving into its own surgical subspecialty with newer and more sophisticated technologies. Akron General is proud to offer advanced and comprehensive endocrine surgical services, including minimally invasive thyroid and parathyroid surgeries, and laparoscopic adrenal surgeries.

Thyroid surgery continues to be the most common operation performed by endocrine surgeons, and minimally invasive techniques are being applied to thyroid surgery with very low complication rates. Smaller incisions and the availability of the "harmonic scalpel" enable operations to be done with less anesthesia time and quicker recovery. Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have an elevated serum calcium level and parathyroid hormone (PTH) level. Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy is now considered the optimal approach for treating most of these patients. The availability of an intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay helps to ensure a successful procedure.

A particularly exciting development in the field of endocrine surgery is the laparoscopic approach to adrenalectomy. Patients who previously required a larger abdominal scar can undergo the same procedure through three tiny incisions. This technique results in much less postoperative pain and disability, and patients are home in less than 24 hours. Akron General is pleased to be one of the few hospitals in the region to offer this procedure to patients who require adrenalectomy.