title: The risk of hypocalcemia in patients with parathyroid autotransplantation during thyroidectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thyroidectomy is the most common cause of hypocalcemia. Preservation of parathyroid glands in situ is essential in preventing this complication. The aims of our study were to review patients who underwent parathyroid gland autotransplantation during thyroidectomy, and to compare hypocalcemia rates in patients with and without autotransplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parathyroid gland autotransplantation was performed in 43 (7.9%) of 543 patients who underwent thyroidectomy between 2008 and 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four parathyroid glands were autotransplanted in 43 patients, including 36 women and 7 men. The median age was 55 (range: 30 to 68). The most common cause of autotransplantation was vascular comprise of the parathyroid gland. Early postoperative hypocalcemia developed in 37% of patients with autotransplantation, and none developed permanent hypocalcemia. Transient and permanent hypocalcemia rates were 9.6% and 0.4% in patients without autotransplantation, respectively. The risk of transient hypocalcemia was significantly high in patients with parathyroid autotransplantation (p<0.001). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of permanent hypocalcemia (p=0.156).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite meticulous dissection, parathyroid glands can be devascularized or removed inadvertently during thyroidectomy. Parathyroid autotransplantation is the best method to maintain parathyroid gland function. Although the risk of transient hypocalcemia is increased following parathyroid autotransplantation, long-term results are satisfactory.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of General Surgery, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oran
authors.affiliation: Clinic of General Surgery, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gürkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yetkin
authors.affiliation: Clinic of General Surgery, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihmanlı
authors.affiliation: Clinic of General Surgery, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fevzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Celayir
authors.affiliation: Clinic of General Surgery, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurcihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aygün
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Family Practice, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bestegül
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Çoruh
authors.affiliation: Clinic of General Surgery, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peker
authors.affiliation: Clinic of General Surgery, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uludağ
keywords: Parathyroid autotransplantation; hypocalcemia; thyroidectomy