Post thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia

To evaluate the incidence and assess the risk factors of hypocalcaemia and permanent hypoparathyroidism following thyroidectomy. 150 patients operated for thyroidectomy from January 2003 to March 2006 were included in this study the fasting serum calcium and phosphorus levels were measured daily before and after surgery until the day of discharge; parathrome measurement was performed for all hypocalcaemic patients. 12 out of 150 patients [8%] developed postoperative hypocalcaemia, 2 of them [16.6%] were considered permanent. Total thyroidectomy was the procedure in 38 patients, 6 from them [15.8%] devoloped hypocalcaemia and the other 6 out of 112 cases[5.4%] were after subtotal thyroidectomy. The hypocalcaemia was 11.4% in toxic goitre [5 out of 44 patients], 12% were malignant goitre[3 out of 12 patients] and 3.6% were simple multinodular goitre [3 out of 84 patients]. When preservation of parathyroid glands and their blood supply is enforced during thyroidectomy, the incidence of postoperative hypocalcaemia and permanent hypoparathyroidism can be consistently deceased