Persistent Hypoparathyroidism Research Articles

Impact of oral administration of calcitriol to prevent symptomatic hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

One of the most common complications of total thyroidectomy is post-operative transient or persistent hypoparathyroidism that can cause symptomatic hypocalcaemia. To prevent this complication, shorten the period of hospitalization and reduce morbidity, routine supplementation of oral vitamin D and calcium has been suggested. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to critically assess the association between pre-operative calcitriol supplementation and post-operative hypocalcaemia. Randomized controlled trial studies were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases up to 30 March 2023. Screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts of articles were performed, and data were extracted for a meta-analysis. This meta-analysis includes data from nine randomized controlled trials with a total of 1259 patients but with significant heterogeneity. The results demonstrate that calcium levels were higher in patients who had pre-operative calcitriol supplementation, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) 0.18 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.00, 0.37). Pre-operative calcitriol supplementation did not lead to significant changes in parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, with WMD -0.49 (95% CI: -1.91, 0.94). Pre-operative calcitriol supplementation leads to higher calcium levels, but the high heterogeneity of the included studies (79% to 98.7%) could affect the results.

Early parathyroid hormone (PTH) level as a predictor of post-surgical hypoparathyroidism

Introduction Post-operative hypocalcemia and postoperative persistent hypoparathyroidism remain the most common complications after thyroidectomy. Many approaches have been developed to prevent them, but actually, a common protocol is not yet individuated. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed the results of a prospectively collected database. We dosed PTH preoperatively and 4 h after surgery (PTH_4); calcium was evaluated preoperatively, on the first (I_POD) and on the second postoperative day (II_POD). Hypocalcemia was defined when calcium <8 mg/dl. PTH_4 and I_POD calcium serum levels are identified to predict postoperative hypocalcemia. Results Three hundred and forty-eight patients were enrolled, 37 patients resulted as hypocalcemic on I_POD and 41 on the II_POD. PTH_4 is related to I_POD (p < 0.001, r = 0.45) and II_POD (p < 0.001, r = 0.44) calcemia. PTH_4-cut-off predicting I_POD hypocalcemia was 10.50 pg/ml (sensitivity: 78.7%, specificity: 72.7%). A PTH_4 value of 11.5 pg/ml is able to predict hypocalcemia during II_POD (sensitivity: 76.5%, specificity: 69.2%). We set up a combined test to predict II_POD hypocalcemia, using PTH_4 and I_POD calcium (sensitivity: 77.8%, specificity: 89.9%). Conclusion This research shows the association between PTH_4 and postoperative hypocalcemia. The PTH_4 cut-off to predict I_POD-hypocalcemia was 10.5 pg/ml. We analyzed the calcemia trend during the postoperative period and we realized a combined test using PTH_4 and I_POD-calcemia. This test improves the accuracy of the previous test. Further studies, in particular multicentric, with a larger sample are necessary to validate the combined model.

Incidence of Post-Thyroidectomy Hypoparathyroidism and Associated Preoperative and Intraoperative Risk Factors.

Thyroidectomy technique and extent are related to parathyroid injury and hypoparathyroidism. Total thyroidectomy is one of the most commonly performed endocrine surgeries, and the majority of patients recover completely without any complications. However, persistent hypoparathyroidism is the most prevalent long-term consequence following total thyroidectomy. While it is seldom deadly, it can cause severe morbidity for the patient and raise healthcare expenses. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We included all confirmed thyroid cancer cases that underwent thyroidectomy with or without neck dissectionbetween July 2016 and August 2022. The data was collected from a chart review of the electronic medical record system (BEST-care), and a data collection sheet was utilized. SPSS version 26 was used to analyze the data. A total of 192 patients undergoing thyroid surgery were enrolled. One hundred forty-three (74.5%) were females and the mean age of participants was 45.29 ± 16.88 years. Most patients, 170 (88.5%), had a papillary histological type, and total thyroidectomy was performed in 150 (78.1%). A significant association was found between the type of surgery and postoperative hypoparathyroidism (p=<0.05*). In addition, hypocalcemia was seen in 147 (76.6%) of the patients. Postoperative hypoparathyroidism was significantly higher among patients who had asymptomatic postoperative hypocalcemia and those who received IV calcium gluconate (p=<0.05*). Moreover, postoperative hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and hyperphosphatemia were significantly associated with postoperative hypoparathyroidism (p=<0.05*). The incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism is significantly higher among patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and had a normal level of preoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) and magnesium (Mg) levels. Identifying these factors is a crucial step to minimize the occurrence of such complications.

Tension-free thyroidectomy (medial thyroidectomy)-a prospective study: surgical technique and results of 259 operations.

Thyroid surgery is associated with a number of surgical complications including recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury and hypoparathyroidism. The existing methods share the same principle-the mobilization of the thyroid from the lateral side. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of a novel technique of thyroidectomy-tension-free thyroidectomy (TFT) based on the medial approach to the laryngeal nerves and parathyroid glands (PTGs). The study was conducted between August 2021 and July 2022 in Saint Petersburg State University Hospital. A total of 261 patients with thyroid diseases were enrolled in the study and operated on using the TFT technique. The operations with the use of TFT technique were completed in all but two cases which required the conversion to the standard lateral approach. Of 259 TFT cases unilateral laryngeal paresis was registered in 6 (2.3%) cases or in 1.7% of the number of RLNs at risk. In all but one case the vocal fold function recovered in less than 6 months of the follow-up. Among 87 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism was found in 10 cases (11.5%), rate of persistent hypoparathyroidism was 0%. One case of postoperative bleeding was recorded (0.4%). The TFT technique demonstrated high safety and several advantages over the traditional method of performing operations on the thyroid gland.

Comparing subtotal parathyroidectomy and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation in renal transplant recipients.

Both subtotal parathyroidectomy (SPTX) and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation (TPTX + AT) are considered acceptable surgical approaches for renal patients. It is common that parathyroid surgery is performed in patients before they undergo kidney transplantation and there is currently no evidence considering the best surgical approach in this subset of patients. Two cohorts were identified of consecutive patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for renal hyperparathyroidism by two surgeons at a single institution over equivalent time periods (SPTX and TPTX + AT). A retrospective chart review was performed to assess these techniques, including outcomes following kidney transplantation. There were 125 patients analysed, with 56 patients who underwent SPTX and 69 who underwent TPTX + AT. Both cohorts effectively reduced PTH post operatively. There were 22 patients in the SPTX cohort and 26 in the TPTX + AT cohort that subsequently received kidney transplants. There were no cases of recurrent hyperparathyroidism and one of hypoparathyroidism (4.5%) in the SPTX patients post-transplant. There was one case of recurrent hyperparathyroidism (3.8%) and four of persistent hypoparathyroidism (15.4%) in the TPTX + AT patients post-transplant. Surgery for renal hyperparathyroidism requires a careful balance of the extent of parathyroid resection to prevent persistent/recurrent disease and avoid permanent hypoparathyroidism. SPTX may be a more appropriate option in kidney transplant candidates in order to minimise the risk of long-term hypoparathyroidism.

Prophylaxis of postoperative hypoparathyroidism in thyroid surgery.

There are a number of thyroid gland diseases that require surgical treatment. Therefore, it is important to improve the surgical approaches and treatment tactics in patients that need such surgery. To provide an algorithm to prevent parathyroid gland damage during surgery. This work was based on treatment results of 226 patients with different thyroid diseases. All patients received extrafascial surgical interventions using modern methodological approaches. For prevention of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, we used the "stress-test", 5-aminolevulenic acid, and a method of double visual-instrumental registration of photosensitizer-induced fluorescence of parathyroid glands. Transient hypoparathyroidism was registered in four (1.8%) cases after surgery. Permanent hypocalcemia in patients was not recorded. Autotransplantation of parathyroid gland was required only in one case (0.44%). A deficiency or low level of vitamin D was detected in 35% of the cases, and in the majority of those cases, it was due to secondary hyperparathyroidism. The deficiency was corrected with the administration of vitamin D in all cases. In 10.17% (23 patients) of cases, there was no proper visual glow effect after administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), which required proceeding to the second part of the proposed method (a helium-neon laser and registration of fluorescence using a laser spectrum analyzer). The proposed methodological approach allows prevention of persistent hypoparathyroidism and reduces the frequency of transient hypoparathyroidism and other complications in surgical treatment of patients with various thyroid gland diseases.

Does Surgeon Volume Impact Morbidity Following Parathyroidectomy? A Study of 16,140 Parathyroidectomies from the UK Registry of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgery (UKRETS) Database.

Outcomes in endocrine surgery have been shown to improve with surgeon volume. We aimed to study the effect of surgeon volume on morbidity following parathyroidectomy. UKRETS data from 2004 to 2019 was studied. Parathyroidectomies for primary hyperparathyroidism with complete data were included. Exclusion criteria were age <18 or >80years; surgeons contributing <10 cases overall; and length of stay >28days. Multivariable analysis was performed. Primary outcome was persistent hypercalcaemia; secondary outcomes were haemorrhage, length of stay, need for re-admission, post-operative hypocalcaemia, and need for calcium/vitamin D supplements to maintain eucalcaemia at 6months. 153 surgeons undertook mean 22.5 (median 17, range 2-115) parathyroidectomies/year. Persistent hypercalcaemia affected 4.8% (776/16140) overall; 5.7% (71/1242) in surgeons undertaking < 10cases/year; 5.1% (3339/6617) for 10-30cases/year; 5.0% (270/5397) for 30-50 cases; and 3.3% (96/2884) for >50 cases/year. High-volume (>50parathyroidectomies/year) surgeons operated 23.4% (809/3464) of negative localisation cases compared to 16.4% (2074/12676) of positive localisation cases. Persistent hypercalcaemia was almost twice as common in image negative (7.9%) compared to image-positive (4%) cases. Persistent hypercalcaemia was significantly more likely to occur in the low volume (<10parathyroidectomies/year) group than high volume (>50parathyroidectomies/year), regardless of image positivity (p = 0.0006). Surgeon volume significantly reduced persistent hypercalcaemia on multivariable analysis (OR = 0.878, 95%CI 0.842-0.914, p < 0.001), along with age, sex, and positive localisation. BNE and re-operation significantly increased persistent hypercalcaemia. Post-operative hypocalcaemia occurred in 3.2% (509/16040) and was reduced with increasing surgeon volume (OR = 0.951, 95%CI 0.910-0.993, p < 0.001). Haemorrhage and length of stay were not significantly associated with surgeon volume. The incidence of persistent hypercalcaemia, post-operative hypocalcaemia, and persistent hypoparathyroidism decreased with increasing surgeon volume. The relative reduction in persistent hypercalcaemia with surgeon volume was similar in image negative and positive groups, but the absolute reduction was higher in image negative cases. Restricting image negative parathyroidectomy to high-volume surgeons could be considered.

Level of parathyroid hormone in the early postoperative period as a prognostic factor for persistent manifestations of clinical hypocalcemia

Objective — to determine the level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the early postoperative period in patients after the thyroid gland surgery, which enables to define the risk of persistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism with clinical manifestations of hypocalcemia.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study involved 303 patients who were operated in the Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center for Endocrine Surgery, Transplantation of Endocrine Organ and Tissue due to various thyroid pathologies in the period of January, 2020 through June, 2021. The scope of the operation was thyroidectomy with/without lymph node dissection. The PTH level in blood serum was determined for all patients in the morning after the surgery (16 — 22 hours later). Clinical signs of hypocalcemia due to hypoparathyroidism (PTH level &lt; 15 pg/ml) were revealed in 147 (48.5 %) subjects. Moving forward, such patients were examined for blood serum PTH levels after 3 months (first stage of examinations) and 6 months (second stage of examinations).&#x0D; Results. After 3 months, normalization of PTH levels and no clinical hypocalcemia manifestations were defined in 126 patients (85.7 %); 21 patients (14.3 %) had low PTH levels (&lt; 15 pg/ml) with clinical manifestations of hypocalcemia. The use of ROC‑analysis to predict the normalization of PTH levels after 3 months revealed the cut‑off threshold 2.8 pg/ ml. After 6 months, normalization of PTH levels and no clinical hypocalcemia manifestations were defined in 136 (92.5 %) patients, whereas 11 (7.4 %) subjects demonstrated the reduced PTH levels and clinical manifestations of hypocalcemia. Results of ROC‑analysis prediction of the normalization of PTH levels after 6 months post‑surgery, the cut‑off threshold 1.6 pg/ml.&#x0D; Conclusions. Postoperative PTH levels &gt; 2.8 pg/ml after 3 months after surgery and &gt; 1.6 pg/ml after 6 months established to be a predictor of normalization serum PTH levels. A PTH level &lt; 1.6 pg/ml can be considered a predictor of persistent hypoparathyroidism, and allows the physician to recognize patients with possible long‑term specific treatment.

The efficacy and safety of tension-free thyroidectomy in the clinical work of the Endocrine Surgery Department Pavlov State Medical University, pilot study

BACKGROUND: Despite the intensive development of safe thyroid surgery technologies, it has not yet been possible to achieve a significant reduction in the level of specific complications. One of the possible reasons is the method of the conventional surgical operation especially possible traction during thyroid tissue rotation on the way to n.reccurence. In 2022, group of authors led by I.V. Sleptsov proposed a new technique for Tention-Free Thyroidectomy (TFT), which demonstrated a significant reduction in the level of specific complications.AIM: To conduct a pilot study to assess the reproducibility, efficacy and safety of TFT in the work of the endocrine surgery department of Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at the Department of Endocrine Surgery in the period from January to April 2022. Patients with surgical thyroid disease underwent a new proposed TFT intervention. The method is fully consistent with the author’s description in patent No. 2772015, and the surgeons performing the new surgical technique underwent an internship with the authors of TFT before the initiation of the study. The study is prospective, non-randomized, uncontrolled. Persistent laryngeal dysfunction and persistent hypoparathyroidism were considered the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were transient vocal cord paresis, hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism.RESULTS: The study included 20 people. The indications for surgery were endocrinological and oncological. The number of performed hemithyroidectomies were 15, thyroidectomy (TE) — 5 (one with central lymph node dissection), the volume of the thyroid gland varied from 4 cm3 to 280 cm3 . None of the patients reached the primary endpoint. There were no permanent dysfunction of the larynx in our study. Only in one patient in the postoperative period, a violation of the mobility of the vocal fold was revealed, however, during follow up on the 30th day of the postoperative period the mobility of the vocal fold was restored (confirmed by direct laryngoscopy). Hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia were not detected. However, it is necessary to mention the number of TE was too small.CONCLUSION: Thus, the new proposed TFT method is fully reproducible in the work of a specialized department of endocrine surgery. The method has demonstrated high rates of efficiency and safety in real clinical practice. However, further studies with a higher evidence base are required.

Actual prevalence of hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy: a health insurance claims-database study.

Persistent hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT) is a major complication of total thyroidectomy. Nonetheless, previous reports may have underestimated the prevalence of hypoPT due to patient selection bias. We aimed to estimate the actual prevalence of persistent hypoPT after total thyroidectomy and to find predictive factors for postoperative hypoPT. This study retrospectively reviewed data from a health insurance claims-based database provided by the Japan Medical Data Center Co., Ltd. From 2009 to 2019, 2388 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were identified using the medical procedure codes. Persistent hypoPT was defined as the prescription of active vitamin D supplements for >1 year postoperatively and the assignment of hypoPT codes. The prevalence of persistent hypoPT was estimated at two different levels: minimum and maximum estimations with or without postoperative osteoporosis and/or renal failure codes. Correlates for persistent hypoPT were investigated among several demographic and clinical variables. Of the 2388 patients, 1752 (73.4%) were women with a mean age of 45 years. The types of diseases were: benign thyroid disease (n = 235), malignant thyroid tumors (n = 1570), Graves ' disease (n = 558), and malignancy combined with Graves' disease (n = 25). The minimum and the maximum estimation of the prevalence of persistent hypoPT were 15.0 and 20.3%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the malignant tumor (odds ratio, 1.8) independently correlated with persistent hypoPT. The prevalence of persistent hypoPT after total thyroidectomy estimated by the claims-based database was higher than previously recognized. Comprehensive attempts to preserve parathyroid function, especially in malignant diseases, are essential.

The Effect of Pre-Thyroidectomy Calcitriol Prophylaxis on Post-Thyroidectomy Hypocalcaemia in Children

Introduction: Transient or persistent hypoparathyroidism is one of the most well-known complications of total thyroidectomy and may lead to symptomatic hypocalcaemia. In children, treatment of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia usually consists of postoperative calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation. In 2013, we implemented prophylactic pre-thyroidectomy calcitriol supplementation for all children undergoing total thyroidectomy at the Amsterdam UMC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of this prophylactic calcitriol supplementation in preventing post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia in children. Methods: In a retrospective case study, we included all children (age <18 years), who underwent a total or completion thyroidectomy in the Amsterdam UMC, between 2000 and 2020. Patients were divided into two groups, patients with preoperative calcitriol supplementation and those without (controls). Hypocalcaemia was defined as total serum calcium concentration of <2.0 mmol/L. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of hypocalcaemia in the first 72 h after surgery. Secondary outcome measures were occurrence of symptomatic hypocalcaemia, need for medical intervention within the first 72 h after surgery, and length of hospitalization. Results: A total of 51 patients were included; 26 with calcitriol prophylaxis and 25 controls. There was no significant difference in occurrence of hypocalcaemia (17/26 prophylaxis group; 18/25 control group). Median postoperative calcium concentrations in the first 72 h were significantly higher in the group with prophylaxis at 30–35 h (2.26 vs. 2.01 mmol/L) and 36–41 h (2.17 vs. 1.92 mmol/L). Occurrence of symptomatic hypocalcaemia, need for medical intervention, and length of hospitalization were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: Calcitriol prophylaxis resulted in somewhat higher postoperative calcium concentrations but did not reduce the occurrence of hypocalcaemia or affect clinical outcome measures such as occurrence of symptomatic hypocalcaemia and length of postoperative hospitalization.

Persistent post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

The reported incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism varies widely, and consensus on a definition is lacking. The objective was to evaluate the real-life incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism by investigating a new pragmatic definition. This retrospective multicenter cohort study evaluated the effect of different definitions for persistent hypoparathyroidism on the incidence of hypoparathyroidism. In addition, risk factors for hypoparathyroidism were analyzed. In total, 749 patients were included. Using the new pragmatic definition, we report an incidence of 7.9% of persistent hypoparathyroidism. When applying other commonly used definitions, incidence varied between 11.8% and 22.1%. Risk factors were parathyroid autotransplantation, presence of another surgical complication, and low postoperative serum calcium. Our data show that the incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism in the literature may vary through the use of different definitions. This study indicates that a new pragmatic definition of persistent hypoparathyroidism has the potential to enable unbiased comparison between studies.

Endocrine and Growth Disorders in Taiwanese Children With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

BackgroundEndocrine disorders are common in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). This study aimed to elucidate the clinical manifestations of endocrine disorders, including parathyroid, thyroid and growth disorders, in Taiwanese patients with 22q11.2DS.MethodsFrom 1994 to 2020, the medical records of 138 patients with 22q11.2DS diagnosed at a tertiary referral medical center in Taiwan were thoroughly reviewed retrospectively.ResultsHypocalcemia was detected in 57 of 135 patients (42%); 33 of 104 patients (32%) had hypoparathyroidism, and in 87% of them, hypocalcemia was detected before the age of one. Most patients had precipitating stressors during symptomatic hypocalcemic episodes. Eighteen of 29 patients had overt hypoparathyroidism at the last visit: 11 had persistent hypoparathyroidism and the other seven had recurrent hypoparathyroidism. Four of 84 patients had thyroid disorders, including thyroid developmental anomalies in two, dyshormonogenesis in one and Graves’ disease in one. Fifty of 126 patients (40%) had short stature. Age (odds ratio (OR) 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-0.96; P<0.001) and airway anomalies (OR 2.75; 95% CI 1.04-7.31; P<0.05) were significant risk factors for short stature in multivariate logistic regression model. Twenty-eight of the 30 patients with airway anomalies were associated with severe congenital heart disease. Adult height standard deviation score (SDS) in 19 patients was significantly lower than target height SDS (-1.15 ± 0.90 vs -0.08 ± 0.65, P<0.001).ConclusionsHypoparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in patients with 22q11.2DS. It is prudent to assess parathyroid function at diagnosis and during follow-up, especially in the presence of stress, to prevent symptomatic hypocalcemia. Although thyroid disorders are not so common as hypoparathyroidism, screening of thyroid dysfunction is justified in these patients. Patients with 22q11.2DS demonstrate a retarded growth pattern with a tendency of catch-up and regular monitoring of growth is indicated.

Morbidity after thyroid surgery in children: patient perspective

Abstract Aim To explore the children’s/parents’ perception of morbidity after thyroid surgery. Methods Retrospective analysis of consecutive unselected patients who had undergone a thyroid operation under joint care of Paediatric and Endocrine surgeons. Electronic patients records were used to obtain relevant information and a standardised questionnaire was mailed to all children. Results Between Jan2009- Dec2020 62 children age 2–18 (median 15.2) had thyroid lobectomy (n=27) or total thyroidectomy (n=35). In-hospital stay ranged 1–3 days (mode1). Replies were received from 20 children at a median 37 months (range 5–60 months) after lobectomy (n= 8) or total thyroidectomy (n=12). Subjective voice assessment using a visual analogue scale remained normal in all children. Voice handicap index scores were normal in 13 (65%) children and increased in 7 (35%) to a median of 4 (range 1–10). Voice-related quality of life was excellent in 18 (90%) children and very good in two children. Swallowing was normal in 14 children, moderately affected in four children and severely affected in 2 children. Appearance of the scar assessed using the Manchester score ranged from 5–16, median 9, with only one child with an ideal score of 5. Three children have had or are waiting for scar revision. There was no persistent hypoparathyroidism. Conclusion In this cohort of children undergoing thyroid surgery, there were no significant voice changes and swallowing morbidity was infrequent. Concerns related to scar appearance were far more common than in the adult population and this should be highlighted in the consent process.

Real-life data of patients with hypoparathyroidism: a case-control study

Objective: This study aims to investigate real-life data of patients with hypoparathyroidism.&#x0D; Material and Method: This retrospective case-control study was carried out in a tertiary endocrine center between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of persistent hypoparathyroidism and healthy controls were included. Demographic characteristics of the patients, laboratory findings, etiologies of hypoparathyroidism, treatments they received, reasons for hospitalization, and complications were investigated. &#x0D; Results: Sixty-five patients (mean age 42.80±13.4 years, 91% female) with hypoparathyroidism, and 54 healthy controls (mean age 33.58±11.9 years, 65% female) were included. Mean calcium level 7.95±0.92 mg/dl, and mean PTH level 9.99±6.30 pg/ml in hypoparathyroidism. Regarding the etiology of HypoPT, 51 (78%) patients had hypoPT due to surgery; 14 (22%) patients developed HypoPT due to non-surgical causes. In patients with hypoPT who underwent surgery, the mean calcium value was 8.03±0.93 mg/dl; the mean calcium value in patients with non-surgical HypoPT was 7.67±0.85 mg/dl. The mean PTH levels in non-surgical group, other group 10.16±6.21 pg/ml and 9.36±6.82 pg/ml, respectively. The most common surgery was due to multinodular goiter (72%). In 46 percent, the most common treatment was calcitriol 0.5 mcg/day and calcium 2000 mg/day. Nearly half of the patients had treatment non-compliance (46%). Eighteen percent of patients had kidney stones. Forty-three percent of the patients had been hospitalized in the last year. The most common reason for the hospitalization of patients with hypoparathyroidism was hypocalcemia, and the most common reason for this was treatment non-compliance.&#x0D; Conclusion: In our study, the most common cause of hypoparathyroidism is surgery due to multinodular goiter. The most common reason for hospitalization is treatment non-compliance. Up to one-fifth of patients had kidney stones.

Post-Thyroidectomy Hypocalcemia: A Single-Center Experience

IntroductionThyroidectomy is a frequent operation performed worldwide. The most common complication following thyroid surgery is hypocalcemia, caused by transient or persistent hypoparathyroidism. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy and to identify potential risk factors.MethodsAll thyroidectomies performed at a single tertiary center between 2012 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia was evaluated in relation to risk factors such as age, sex, procedure type, and type of thyroid disease. Data were extracted from patient medical records. Patients with pre-operative hypocalcemia were excluded.ResultsWe enrolled 182 patients who underwent thyroidectomy. Female patients comprised 83% (n = 151) of the total patients. Of all patients, 116 (63.7%) had developed post-operative temporary hypocalcemia and three (1.6%) had persistent hypocalcemia. Remarkably, no cases of mortality were reported. There was no significant relationship between the occurrence of hypocalcemia and age, type of thyroid disease, and sex. Conversely, there was a significant relationship between the development of hypocalcemia and the type of procedure (P < 0.001).ConclusionThyroidectomy is a safe surgery with few complications when performed by a skilled surgeon. These complications result in longer hospital stays and higher costs. The most common post-thyroidectomy complication was hypocalcemia. Furthermore, patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were at the greatest risk of developing post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

IS BILATERAL JUGULAR VENOUS SAMPLING A SUITABLE STRATEGY FOR PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM CASES WITH PARATHYROID GLANDS THAT CANNOT BE LOCALIZED WITH SESTAMIBI?

Objective: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common disorder. The surgical excision of all hyperfunctional parathyroid tissues is required to ensure long-term eucalcemia in these patients' curative treatment. This study aimed to evaluate whether parathormone (PTH) measurement via bilateral jugular venous sampling (BJVS) is an appropriate strategy for parathyroid adenoma lateralization in PHPT cases where parathyroid glands cannot be localized by imaging. Method: The study included 22 cases diagnosed with PHPT, which could not be localized by ultrasonography and technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy (99mTc-MIBI). The patients’ PTH levels were measured using BJVS, and unilateral neck exploration (UNE) was performed in those detected to have lateralization. Success rate, permanent or temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, and hypoparathyroidism were evaluated. Results: Parathyroid adenoma was successfully excised in 21 of 22 patients, and the success rate of PTH determination with BJVS was observed to be 94.5%. RLN injury and persistent hypoparathyroidism were not observed in any patient. Transient hypoparathyroidism was present in 9% of the patients. Conclusions: In PHPT cases where parathyroid glands cannot be localized on ultrasonography and 99mTc-MIBI, UNE can be safely performed after achieving PTH level lateralization with preoperative BJVS without the need for advanced imaging methods.

Persistent Postthyroidectomy Hypoparathyroidism in the Netherlands

Hypoparathyroidism is one of the most common complications after total or completion thyroidectomy. The reported incidence rate of hypoparathyroidism in the literature is highly variable. Data that provide a better understanding of the magnitude of this postoperative complication are warranted and can provide a stepping stone for further collaborations that aim to reduce complication rates and establish uniform treatment protocols. To evaluate the incidence of postoperative, persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy in patients who were referred to university hospital centers and assess the association of different definitions with the incidence of hypoparathyroidism. This retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted throughout 2016 in 7 Dutch university hospital centers included 200 patients who were undergoing a total or completion thyroidectomy. Data analysis was conducted in January 2021. We report on the incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism, defined as the need for active vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation longer than 1 year after surgery. A total of 200 patients (143 women [71.5%]; mean [IQR] age, 49.0 [37.0-62.0] years) were included and 30 patients (15.0%) developed persistent hypoparathyroidism. The incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism varied between 14.5% (calcium and active vitamin D 1 year postsurgery) to 28.5% (calcium and/or active vitamin D 6 months postsurgery) depending on the definition used. In this cohort study, the risk of persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy was 15% in patients who were referred to university hospital centers. The high rate of persistent hypoparathyroidism warrants efforts to reduce this complication rate. There is discrepancy in the definition and treatment of persistent hypoparathyroidism, and use of uniform evidence-based treatment guidelines enables comparison of interventions.

Assessment of Inter-Institutional Post-Operative Hypoparathyroidism Status Using a Common Data Model.

Post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism may result in various transient or permanent symptoms, ranging from tingling sensation to severe breathing difficulties. Its incidence varies among surgeons and institutions, making it difficult to determine its actual incidence and associated factors. This study attempted to estimate the incidence of post-operative hypoparathyroidism in patients at two tertiary institutions that share a common data model, the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics. This study used the Common Data Model to extract explicitly specified encoding and relationships among concepts using standardized vocabularies. The EDI-codes of various thyroid disorders and thyroid operations were extracted from two separate tertiary hospitals between January 2013 and December 2018. Patients were grouped into no evidence of/transient/permanent hypoparathyroidism groups to analyze the likelihood of hypoparathyroidism occurrence related to operation types and diagnosis. Of the 4848 eligible patients at the two institutions who underwent thyroidectomy, 1370 (28.26%) experienced transient hypoparathyroidism and 251 (5.18%) experienced persistent hypoparathyroidism. Univariate logistic regression analysis predicted that, relative to total bilateral thyroidectomy, radical tumor resection was associated with a 48% greater likelihood of transient hypoparathyroidism and a 102% greater likelihood of persistent hypoparathyroidism. Moreover, multivariate logistic analysis found that radical tumor resection was associated with a 50% greater likelihood of transient hypoparathyroidism and a 97% greater likelihood of persistent hypoparathyroidism than total bilateral thyroidectomy. These findings, by integrating and analyzing two databases, suggest that this analysis could be expanded to include other large databases that share the same Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics protocol.

A territory-wide assessment of the incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism after elective thyroid surgery and its impact on new fracture risk over time

BackgroundAlthough persistent (≥6 months) postoperative hypoparathyroidism is often believed to be rare after elective total thyroidectomy, we hypothesized a higher incidence in the community and that patients with persistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism may have a higher fracture risk. A population-based analysis was performed using an electronic health database to address these issues. MethodsAll elective total thyroidectomies performed in 14 major hospitals across the territory over 20 years were analyzed. Persistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism was defined by the requirement of oral calcium and vitamin D shortly postoperatively and continued for ≥6 months. Those with albumin-corrected calcium <1.90 mmol/L on ≥1 occasion beyond 1 year postoperation were considered suboptimally controlled. Patients were followed until an index fracture, death, or the time of analysis, whichever was earlier. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to identify clinical predictors for fractures. ResultsAmong 4,123 eligible patients, 460 patients (11.2%) had persistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Over a median of 10.3 years, 126 patients suffered from a new fracture (2.77 per 1,000 person-years). There was no difference in fracture events between patients with and without persistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism (P = .761). Subgroup analyses according to the adequacy of persistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism control did not reveal significant differences in fracture events. Age, female, history of fall, and diabetes independently predicted post-thyroidectomy fractures. ConclusionPersistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism appeared to be a more common complication in the community after elective total thyroidectomy than previously thought. We did not observe a significant difference in fracture risk between patients with and without persistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism. The impact of persistent postoperative hypoparathyroidism control on fracture risk remained to be determined.