EVALUATION OF THE ETIOLOGY OF HYPOCALCAEMIA FOLLOWING THYROIDECTOMY

Abstract

Thyroidectomy is one of the most common operations done today. The complications following thyroidectomy are well known. Hypocalcaemia is a common complication following thyroidectomy. Although permanent hypocalcaemia is rare, it can pose significant problems. The pathogenesis of transient hypoclacaemia after thyriod surgery is not fully understood. The incidence of hypocalcaemia is relatively much common after total thyroidectomy 35% in this study than after subtotal thyroidectomy 16% in this study. Permanent hypocalcaemia, which could be defined as hypocalceamia lasting two months or more after thyroid surgery, is due to vascular necrosis and/or accidental removal of the parathyroid glands and the incidence of permanent hypocalcemia in this study is 1.4%. In this study we observed 210 patients who underwent thyroid operations in El-Demerdash hospitals and Ain Shams specialized hospital in the period of two and half years, 130 patients underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy and 80 patients underwent total thyroidectomy. • We followed the changes in the calcium and phosphorus level both in the serum and the urine in the first, the third and the fifth day. We measured the calcitonin level in the first day and we measured the parathyroid • hormone level in the third day, we observed the changes in the total proteins and albumin.