title: Complications after total thyroidectomy.
abstract: A retrospective review of 64 total thyroidectomies performed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center was conducted. Only one patient had permanent hypocalcemia (1.6%) requiring calcium supplementation. Eight patients had a total of 11 complications, for a complication rate of 12.5%. These results are in sharp contrast to those published in 1972 from this institution, in which the permanent hypocalcemia rate was 29%. The reasons for this difference are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shemen
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Strong
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*