One of the complications of thyroid surgery when the whole gland is removed (total thyroidectomy) is hypocalcaemia.

Hypocalcaemia occurs when the blood calcium levels fall resulting in tingling in the hands, lips and feet and occasionally muscle cramps.

Hypocalcaemia occurs because the small parathyroid glands around the thyroid stop working after the surgery either due to injury to the gland itself, their blood supply or because they are removed at operation.  This is a surgeon dependent complication.

National Audit data (British Association of Thyroid and Endocrine Surgeons, 2009) shows the rate of hypocalcaemia to be 29.6% after total thyroidectomy.  This means that nearly 1 in 3 patients nationally have to take calcium tablets after surgery because of this complication. 

Mr McLaren takes part in the National Audit and his patients suffer this complication in less than 3% of cases - a ten fold improvement on the national average. 

For some patients this can make a big difference as longterm problems from hypocalcaemia include - muscle aches and cataract formation in addition to the need to take calcium supplements.

Graves disease of the thyroid is an autoimmune condition where the body produces antibodies which target the thyroid gland.  The end result is an overactive thyroid state which requires treatment.

Standard treatment is medical with tablets (carbimazole, propythiouracil) which stop the thyroid gland from making too much thyroid hormone.

After 12-18 months of treatment the condition may settle by itself allowing the tablets to be withdrawn and the patient remain completely cured.  Unfortunately some patients relapse.

Definitive treatments may be necessary to completely cure the disease - the only options are surgery (total thyroidectomy) or radioactive iodine.

Mr McLaren regularly operates to cure Graves disease and has extremely high success rates - in particular ultra-low rates of hypocalcaemia after surgery.

The minimal access surgical approach offered will result in only 1 night being needed in hospital and the majority of patients not taking any painkillers after the surgery.  As a result of these dramatic improvements in surgery many more patients are opting for this approach as an 'instant' cure for Graves disease.