Title: Study of Incidence of Hypocalcemia in Total Thyroidectomy Patients Using Serum Calcium Level as an Indicator

Authors: Dr Manoj.V.V., Dr Ramlal.R.V.

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i7.142

Abstract

Background: Total thyroidectomy is a commonly performed surgery in our part of the country. Injury to parathyroids or total loss of the parathyroid glands is an important complication of total thyroidectomy which leads to transient or persistent hypocalcemia.

Aims: To find out the incidence of post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy and to evaluate the risk of hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy by early serial postoperative serum calcium level estimation.

Materials and Methods: After ethical committee approval and informed consent from patients a crosssectional study was performed in 60 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy within a period of 6 months. Postoperative serial calcium estimation in 12, 24, 72 hours and after 7 days was performed and results were analysed by entering in Microsoft excel.

Results: By analysing the data using appropriate software, three groups of patients showing positive trend, negative trend and doubtful trend in serum calcium status were obtained. In patients showing a positive trend in early serum calcium estimation showed no incidence of persistent hypocalcemia where as those with negative trend showed a considerable incidence of hypocalcemia.

Conclusion: In our study estimation of early serum calcium levels after total thyroidectomy

helped to identify patients with risk of developing persistent hypocalcemia and patients who can be discharged early without much hypocalcemic complications.

Keywords: Total thyroidectomy, hypocalcemia, serum calcium estimation, positive trend, negative trend.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Ramlal .R.V.

Mob: 9447037787, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.