[Hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy: analysis on 804 treated patients].
BACKGROUND
Hypocalcemia is a possible sequela of thyroidectomy; the causes are not fully understood.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Sianesi
Mario
M
Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica Generale e dei Trapianti d'Organo Università di Parma.
Del Rio
Paolo
P
Arcuri
Maria Francesca
MF
Cataldo
Simona
S
Robuschi
Giuseppe
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*