title: [Hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy: analysis on 804 treated patients].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica Generale e dei Trapianti d'Organo Università di Parma.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sianesi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Rio
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cataldo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robuschi
mesh_terms: 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*