title: Preoperative vitamin D level as predictor of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia in patients sustaining transient parathyroid injury.
abstract: Several studies have sought to identify predictors of postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy; however, there have been conflicting results regarding the impact of preoperative vitamin D deficiency.
  
  
  
  The medical records of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The number of parathyroid glands identified or reimplanted at the time of surgery was used as a marker of transient parathyroid gland damage.
  
  
  
  Sixty-seven patients were included in the study. Vitamin D deficiency was a significant predictor of hypocalcemia in patients in whom ≥3 parathyroid glands were identified, but not in patients in whom 0-2 parathyroid glands were identified intraoperatively (odds ratio [OR] 5.8; P = .036).
  
  
  
  Vitamin D deficiency is a significant predictor of postoperative hypocalcemia in patients in whom ≥3 parathyroid glands are identified intraoperatively, but not in patients who sustain minimal transient damage to the parathyroid glands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Oncologic and Microvascular Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8909-5960
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Oncologic and Microvascular Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Shonka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000293:injuries*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: hypocalcemia; parathyroid; parathyroid injury; thyroidectomy; vitamin D