Comparison of the Incidence of Postoperative Hypocalcemia following Total Thyroidectomy vs Completion Thyroidectomy. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merchavy, Shlomo; Marom, Tal; Forest, Veronique-Isabelle; Hier, Michael; Mlynarek, Alex; McHugh, Tobial; Payne, Richard
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 152:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: total thyroidectomy -- completion thyroidectomy -- hypocalcemia -- hypoparathyroidism -- complication; Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599814556250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

Objective: To study the rate of postoperative hypocalcemia following completion thyroidectomy (CT), in comparison with the hypocalcemia rate following total thyroidectomy (TT). Study Design and Setting: A retrospective study, performed at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from 2007 to 2012. Subjects and Methods: Medical records of adult patients undergoing CT and TT operated by a single surgeon were reviewed. Data were extracted for demographics, postoperative calcium levels, surgical logs, and final surgical pathology. Hypocalcemia was defined as corrected serum calcium level ≤1.90 mmol/L, with concurrent serum parathyroid hormone <8 ng/L, and/or any signs or symptoms of hypocalcemia. Results: There were 68 CTs and 146 TTs. Transient hypocalcemia occurred in 1 of 68 (1.5%) and 18 of 146 (12.5%) patients in the CT and TT groups, respectively. The rate of hypocalcemia was significantly lower in the CT compared with the TT group ( P = .02). In both groups, there were no cases of permanent hypocalcemia. Conclusion: The risk of transient of hypocalcemia in patients undergoing CT is significantly lower than the rate of hypocalcemia in patients undergoing TT.