title: Truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries does not affect the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy on the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective non-randomised study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching hospital, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  216 patients who had bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for non-toxic nodular goitre between 1990 and 1996.
  
  
  METHODS
  The trunk of the each inferior thyroid artery was simply ligated during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical examination, and measurement of serum calcium, ionised calcium, and inorganic phosphate concentrations before and after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients (2%) had low concentrations of total and ionised calcium during the postoperative period. On physical examination three of them had spasms of the facial nerve, as seen in tetany. They were given calcium supplements orally and their laboratory results returned to reference ranges within 180 days. No patients developed permanent hypocalcaemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy has no effect on the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy.
authors.affiliation: 4th Department of Surgery, Ankara Numune Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolapçi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doğanay
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods