title: Postoperative hypocalcemia--the difference a definition makes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Review of the literature reveals considerable variability in the definitions and criteria used for reporting postoperative hypocalcemia. The lack of standardization prevents a meaningful comparison of results and performance locally with the national standard. It also prevents the pooling of data when performing meta-analysis, and may affect the comparison of research results.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review was performed to identify the different definitions used to define hypocalcemia in post-thyroidectomy patients. We analyzed the incidence of hypocalcemia in the same cohort of 202 post thyroidectomy patients using these definitions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reported hypocalcemia rates varied from 0% to 46% for the same cohort depending on the definition of hypocalcemia used. Only one-third of biochemically hypocalcemic patients requested calcium supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the need for more uniformity and standardization in the definitions used for reporting hypocalcemia rates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education, University Hospital, Coventry, United Kingdom. hisham.mehanna@uhcw.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Hisham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mehanna
authors.forename: Anurag
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Harpal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Randeva
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watkinson
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium