Transient hypoparathyroidism following thyroidectomy: a prospective study and multivariate analysis of 604 consecutive patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism in a group of patients undergoing thyroid surgery.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted on 604 patients undergoing thyroid surgery.


METHODS
Gender, final diagnosis, extent of resection, biology of pathology, intrathoracic involvement, surgery for recurrent multinodular goiter, and presence and number of parathyroid glands in a surgical specimen were analyzed as risk factors for postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism. The chi-square test and a logistic regression analysis were applied.


RESULTS
On logistic regression analysis, only the extent of surgery constituted an independent variable for transient hypoparathyroidism (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The extent of surgery to central and/or lateral neck lymph nodes is responsible for a high rate of transient hypoparathyroidism owing to a high probability of unplanned parathyroidectomy or parathyroid gland devascularization.
Cavicchi
Ottavio
O
ENT Department, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna University, Bologna, Italy. ocavicchi@libero.it
Piccin
Ottavio
O
Caliceti
Umberto
U
De Cataldis
Angelo
A
Pasquali
Renato
R
Ceroni
Alberto Rinaldi
AR
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000601:surgery; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000601:surgery; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*