Hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy: analysis on 804 treated patients
Sianesi, M.; Del Rio, P.; Arcuri, M.F.; Cataldo, S.; Robuschi, G.
Annali Italiani di Chirurgia 77(4): 295-298
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-469X PMID: 17139956 Document Number: 598793
Hypocalcemia is a possible sequela of thyroidectomy; the causes are not fully understood. We analyzed 804 patients (594 total thyroidectomy, 209 emithyroidectomy) treated in our Institute from January 1995 to December 2000. Serum calcium, ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), fosforemia were screened pre- and postoperatively. Hypocalcemia, defined by a serum calcium less than 7.5 mg/dL, occurred in 126 patients (21.2%). In 90.6% of these patients the serum calcium was normal at seven days after thyroidectomy. In two patients we have registered at 180 days after thyroidectomy a permanent hypoparathyroidism. Several factors are important in the incidence of postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia but the inadvertent excision of parathyroid gland, ischemia and injury are the major causes of lowering of serum calcium concentration.