Can the risk of hypocalcemia be detected with intact parathyroid hormone level after total thyroidectomy?

Abstract

Objective: Nowadays, thyroidectomy is performed in patients with various indications. However, transient or permanent hypocalcemia occurs after surgery. In this case, the duration of hospitalization of the patients is prolonged. In this study, we aimed to detect hypocalcemia in the early phase with intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), a biochemical marker. Method: Hospital records of patients who had undergone standard bilateral total thyroidectomy for thyroid disease were retrospectively analyzed between September 2018 and April 2019 at the Department of General Surgery, Gaziantep University. Results: Of the 114 patients included in the study, 91 were female (79.8%), and 23 were male (23%). Calcium levels of ≤8.5 mg/dL were found in 49 of 114 patients. Clinical symptoms of hypocalcemia were observed in 19 of these 49 patients. There was a significant correlation between the patients’ iPTH levels at 3-6 hours postoperatively and the calcium values at 24 hours postoperatively (p<0.05). In addition, a significant, positive and weak correlation was found between the iPTH level and the iPTH level at 24 hours postoperatively and the Ca level at 24 hours postoperatively (p<0.05). The iPTH level measured between 3 and 6 hours postoperatively can predict hypocalcemia with a sensitivity of 77.5% and a specificity of 40.3%. Conclusion: Postoperative hypocalcemia can be predicted with iPTH in the early period. The serum iPTH value has been concluded to be an effective parameter that can be used to predict postoperative hypocalcemia.

Keywords

• Intact Parathyroid Hormone
• Hypocalcemia
• Thyroidectomy

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