To ligate or not the inferior thyroid artery to avoid hypocalcaemia after thyroid surgery.
BACKGROUND
Hypocalcaemia is a well recognized complication of thyroid surgery. We have compared the prevalence of hypocalcaemia in our patients following ligation and non-ligation of the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) during thyroid surgery.


METHODS
A prospective observational study was done from January 2000 to December 2004, at Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi. All patients undergoing subtotal or total thyroidectomy were placed in two groups at random. Group I had ITA ligated whereas in Group II, ITA was not ligated.


RESULTS
310 patients were operated, majority of them being female (97.10%). Transient hypocalcaemia was observed in 4.29% patients in Group I and 3.4% patients in Group II. Permanent hypocalcaemia was observed in 1.84% and 1.36% patients in Group I and Group II, respectively. Results were statistically insignificant (p value > 0.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
There is no significant difference in post-operative hypocalcaemia whether or not the ITA is ligated.
Chaudhary
Ishtiaq Ahmed
IA
Department of Surgery, Foundation University Medical College, Rawalpindi. surgish2000@yahoo.com
Afridi
Zia ud Din
Zu
Samiullah
Masood
Rehan
R
Mallhi
Ashraf Ali
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010280:Parathyroid Glands; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy
D002118:Calcium