Akmam Rajput, Abdul Samad, Ghulam Asghar Channa, Tariq Wahab Khanzada, Ikram Ujjan.
Hypocalcemia: a genuine threat after Thyroidectomy.
Pak J Surg Jan ;25(1):6-9.

Objective: To determine the frequency of hypocalcemia following thyroidectomy. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Setting & Duration: Department of Surgery, Ward 26, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi from March 2002 to December 2002. Methodology: In all, 104 patients undergoing thyroidectomy and fulfilling the selection criteria were included in this study. The patients were monitored clinically as well as biochemically for the development of hypocalcemia on first postoperative day. The patients having postoperative hypocalcemia were given oral replacement therapy and were later followed up in outpatient clinic at regular intervals for two years. Data was collected by filling the proforma postoperatively. Results: Lobectomy and subtotal thyroidectomy were the commonly predominant procedures followed by total thyroidectomy. About 39% of the procedures were associated with transient hypocalcemia. About half of the total thyroidectomies and completion thyroidectomies were associated with transient hypocalcemia. None of the patients developed permanent hypocalcemia. The average fall in calcium level was 0.84 mg/dl. Conclusion: The post-operative hypocalcemia is a common but transient event after thyroidectomy. This frequency of transient post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is comparable to that published in the international literature.

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