title: The impact of age and oral calcium and vitamin D supplements on postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. A prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypocalcemia caused by transient or definitive hypoparathyroidism is the most frequent complication after total thyroidectomy (TT). We aimed to compare the impact of age and the clinical usefulness of oral calcium and vitamin D supplements on postoperative hypocalcemia after TT, and to determine which risk factors are important for hypocalcemia incidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred consecutive patients treated by TT were included prospectively in the present study. All patients supplemented oral calcium and vitamin D in the post-operative time. The data concerning symptomatic and laboratoristichypocalcemia were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptomatic hypocalcemia developed only in 19 patients (9.5%), whereas laboratory hypocalcemia developed in 36 patients (18%). The risk for postoperative hypocalcemia was increate 20-fold for patients older than 50 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age is significantly associated with postoperative hypocalcemia. Implementing oral calcium and vitamin D after total thyroidectomy can reduce the incidence of hypocalcemia related to surgery.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tolone
authors.forename: Ruggiero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roberto
authors.forename: Gianmattia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: del Genio
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brusciano
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casalino
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Verde
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pirozzi
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limongelli
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Docimo
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium