Predicting Risk Factors of Postoperative Hypocalcemia After Total Thyroidectomy

Predicting Risk Factors of Postoperative Hypocalcemia After Total Thyroidectomy: is Safe Discharge Without Supplementation Possible?

With increasing economic pressures to shorten the length of hospital stay, there has been much recent interest in studying risk factors for the development of postoperative hypocalcemia.

The aim of this study was to investigate in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy whether serum calcium and/or PTH levels can predict hypoparathyroidism.

Our study consists of analyzing the calcium (mmol/l) and PTH (pmol/l) levels on the first postoperative day. Postoperative treatment with calcium and vitamin D and the length of hospital stay is also taken into consideration.

We also analyze post-operative complications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Total thyroidectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

• concomitant parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism
• lobectomy only
• completion thyroidectomy
• central and lateral neck dissection
• patients with calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation prior surgery
• patients with known and significant osteoporosis and renal failure