October - December 2017, Volume 13, Issue 4

Yardimci E, Aysan E, Idiz UO, Akbulut H, Yigman S

What Should Be the Approach to Moderate Hypocalcaemia in the Early Period Following Total Thyroidectomy

Acta Endo (Buc) 2017, 13 (4): 437-440
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2017.437

Context. It is unclear whether treatment is necessary for transient moderate hypocalcaemia occurring after total thyroidectomy; if it is present, it is unclear which treatment modality should be preferred. Objective. To investigate both the necessity and effectiveness of different treatment approaches of oral and/ or intravenous calcium treatment in patients with transient, postoperative, moderate hypocalcaemia. Design. This is a case control study made between June 2014 and June 2015. Subjects and Methods. Forty-five patients who had serum calcium levels 6 hours after total thyroidectomy between 7.5-8 mg/dL were divided into three equal groups: an oral calcium administration group, an intravenous calcium administration group and a no-treatment group. Serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 2, 5 and 10. Results. For post-thyroidectomy patients with serum calcium 7.5-8 mg/dL in the early postoperative period, no significant difference in serum calcium or parathyroid hormone was detected between groups. Conclusions. Follow-up without treatment seems to be the most effective approach for moderate hypocalcaemia occurring in the early period following total thyroidectomy; this suggests that intravenous treatment should be avoided.

Keywords: Thyroidectomy, Hypocalcaemia, Parathyroid hormone, Calcium, Treatment

Correspondence: Erkan Yardimci MD, “Bezmialem Vakif” University, Dept. of General Surgery, Adnan Menderes blvd. Vatan str., Istanbul, 34093, Turkey, E-mail: drerkanyardimci@yahoo.com