[Incidence of hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy].
BACKGROUND
Postoperative hypocalcemia is one of the most common complications of thyroid surgery. It is related to the type of disease (malignant or benign), the number of identified parathyroid glands during the surgical procedure, and the surgeon's experience. Total thyroidectomy is the procedure of choice in our hospital for benign and malignant thyroid disease, but it can increase the incidence of complications.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia in patients subjected to a total thyroidectomy.


METHODS
Two studies were performed. A retrospective review of medical records of 448 patients subjected to total thyroidectomy, looking for serum calcium levels of less than 8 mg/dl and clinical signs of hypocalcemia. In a second study, 45 patients were followed with measurements of preoperative and postoperative serum calcium levels.


RESULTS
In the retrospective study, only 136 records had reliable information. Clinical signs of hypocalcemia were registered in 14% of patients and a low serum calcium level was detected in 50%. In the prospective study, 42% of patients had a postoperative low serum calcium level and seven patients (15%) had symptoms. Patients were handled with oral calcium and calcitriol in some cases. Ninety nine percent of patients had normal serum calcium levels two moths after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
In this series, the rate of postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy is similar to international reports.
Gac E
Patricio
P
Departamento de Cirugía Endocrina y General, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santos Dumont, Chile. patriciogac@yahoo.com.ar
Cabané T
Patricio
P
Amat V
José
J
Huidobro G
Felipe
F
Rossi F
Ricardo
R
Rodríguez F
Francisco
F
Ferrada V
Carlos
C
Cardemil R
Francisco
F
D000328:Adult; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium