Abstract
Background and objectiveHypocalcemia is one of the main complications of thyroid surgery. We hypothesized that hemithyroidectomy may have an impact on serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels despite only one thyroid lobe is manipulated. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in serum PTH and calcium levels following hemithyroidectomy.MethodsThis is a prospective study of 53 patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy. The serum PTH level was determined in the preoperative period, 15 min after extraction of the surgical specimen, and 24 h and 3 weeks after surgery. Serum ionized calcium was also measured in the preoperative period and at 6 h, 24 h and 3 weeks after surgery. We assessed the postoperative calcium value and its relationship with the extent of fall in PTH levels in the postoperative period.ResultsNone of the patients had the postoperative serum ionised calcium level less than 4 mg/dl. The decrease in postoperative calcium was statistically significant at 6 and 24 h after surgery; there was no difference at 3 weeks post-surgery. The change in post-operative serum PTH levels followed a similar trend to postoperative serum calcium levels.ConclusionsAlthough serum calcium level decreased after a lobectomy, it always remained above 4 mg/dl. We conclude that hypocalcaemia is rare following hemithyroidectomy.
Highlights
Background and objectiveHypocalcemia is one of the main complications of thyroid surgery
The objective of our study was to compare the concentrations of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium before and after hemithyroidectomy and to evaluate if there is a decrease in their concentrations in the post-operative period
We found no difference in serum calcium levels at 6-h and 24-h after surgery, so one of the two measurements would be sufficient to monitor calcium levels in patient undergoing hemithyroidectomy
Summary
Background and objectiveHypocalcemia is one of the main complications of thyroid surgery. We hypothesized that hemithyroidectomy may have an impact on serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels despite only one thyroid lobe is manipulated. Thyroid lobectomy or hemithyroidectomy is a surgical procedure that consists of the removal of half of the thyroid gland, preserving the contralateral lobe. Indications for this procedure include: unilateral symptomatic goiter, toxic adenoma or thyroid nodules with suspicious or undetermined characteristics in fine needle aspiration cytology [1]. The advantage of this technique is that it retains functional thyroid tissue, theoretically avoiding levothyroxine replacement therapy.
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