Mazhar Iqbal, Anis Subhan, Mirza Sikander Baig, Muhammad Saleem Shah.
Frequency of hypocalcemia in total thyroidectomy.
J Surg Pak Jan ;15(2):87-91.

Objective To find out the frequency of hypocalcaemia in total thyroidectomy and the conditions related to it. Study design Descriptive study. Place & Duration of study This study was conducted in Surgical Ward 3, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi, from January 2009 to July 2010. Methodology Patients above 12 years of age of both sexes who underwent total thyroidectomy, were included. Routine preoperative investigations including serum calcium were carried out in outpatient department. Following total thyroidectomy serum calcium level was measured after 24 hours, 48 hours and then after 7 days. In hypocalcemic patients, signs and symptoms were recorded on proforma. Follow-up of patients with hypocalcemia was done for one year. Results Out of 74 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy sixteen (21.6%) developed hypocalcaemia. It occurred in four cases of total thyroidectomy done for carcinoma thyroid, none with central neck dissection and 17.6% of cases in secondary thyroid surgery (completion thyroidectomy). This was not significantly different from other total thyroidectomies (21.6%) done in this study. Hypocalcaemia was transient in all patients. Conclusions Frequency of hypocalcaemia in total thyroidectomy was 21.6% and was transient due to hypoparathyroidism.

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