title: Course of ionized calcium after thyroidectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of the present study was to investigate the course of ionized calcium after thyroidectomy and to define a cut-off value that indicates symptoms of hypocalcemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 333 patients undergoing thyroidectomy at the University Hospital of UFMG between September 2000 and December 2005. Ionized calcium was determined before and after surgery (days 1, 2, and 30) in all patients and on postoperative days 90 and 180 in those with hypocalcemia. Asymptomatic patients received no calcium replacement therapy, irrespective of calcium concentration. Patients with clinical manifestation of hypocalcemia were treated after laboratory confirmation. The presence or absence of postoperative hypocalcemia was associated with ionized calcium concentration measured on the reported days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ionized calcium declined on the first two days after surgery in all patients when compared to preoperative levels (P = 0.000). Forty-seven (34.6%) of the 136 (40.8%) patients with postoperative hypocalcemia had symptoms. Patients with symptomatic hypocalcemia had significantly lower ionized calcium levels than those with asymptomatic hypocalcemia (P = 0.001). Fourteen (4.2%) patients progressed to definitive hypoparathyroidism by the end of 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of ionized calcium on postoperative days 1 and 2 is sufficient for the evaluation of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Ionized calcium concentrations <1.03 mmol/l on postoperative day 1 are indicative of the presence of symptoms and the need for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Rua República Argentina 786, apto. 602, Bairro Sion, CEP 30, 315490, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. avras@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Andrade Sousa
authors.forename: José Maria Porcaro
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: João Marcos Arantes
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Gustavo Meyer
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.forename: Jomar Rezende
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Savassi
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007477:Ions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D002118:Calcium