Hypoparathyroidism following thyroid surgery occurs with in How many days

BACKGROUND
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is produced by the parathyroid glands and is responsible for directly regulating calcium levels in the blood. If PTH levels are high, calcium levels are high and the disorder is called hyperparathyroidism, which is fairly common. If PTH levels are low, calcium levels are low and the disorder is called hypoparathyroidism, which is relatively rare. Hypoparathyroidism is a chronic illness that greatly impairs patient’s quality of life and ongoing treatment can be challenging.

The most common cause of hypoparathyroidism is damage to the glands during thyroid surgery. There are usually 4 parathyroid glands in the neck and they located next to the thyroid, with 2 glands on each side. These glands frequently get bruised during surgery and mild hypoparathyroidism is rather common after surgery but usually resolves after a few days to weeks. While rare, permanent hypoparathyroidism continues to be a real, clinical problem after thyroid surgery. If it appears that the parathyroid gland(s) will not be able to recover, surgeons may autotransplant one or more parathyroid glands into the muscles of the neck during surgery. However, there remains considerable controversy and uncertainty among surgeons as to the best approach to reduce the risk of hypoparathyroidism when performing thyroidectomy.

In the hands of an experienced surgeon that does a lot of thyroid surgeries (high volume thyroid surgeon), the risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism should be <5%. The incidence in children is higher than in adults, possibly related to the decreased incidence of thyroid surgery and therefore decreased experience among many pediatric thyroid surgeons. However, even in experienced surgical hands in adult patients, the risk of temporary hypoparathyroidism is high. Only a few studies have tried to report the risks of hypoparathyroidism. The first paper reports on post-surgical hypoparathyroidism in children, while the second paper focuses on adults.

THE FULL ARTICLE TITLE:
Nordenström E et al 2018 Permanent hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy in children: results from a national registry. World J Surg. Epub 2018 Feb 22. PMID: 29470698.

Gschwandtner E et al Hermann M 2018 How many parathyroid glands can be identified during thyroidectomy? Evidence-based data for medical experts. Eur Surg 50:14–21. Epub 2017 Dec 13. PMID: 29445392.

SUMMARY OF THE STUDY
In the first paper, three Swedish national databases were combined and reviewed for patients < 18 years of age that had a total thyroidectomy over a 10 year period. The end point studied was the incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism at 6 months after total thyroidectomy. Of 275 patients ages 10–17, the majority of total thyroidectomy operations were for Graves’ disease (78%) while 12% were for thyroid cancer and 10% were for other benign disease. Of these patients, 7.3% (20 patients) had permanent hypoparathyroidism, with the only significant predictor being operative time > 3 hours. There was no significant association between hypoparathyroidism and patient age, type of thyroid disease, performance of autotransplantation of parathyroid glands during surgery, lymph node surgery, weight of thyroid gland specimens, length of hospital stay, or hospital thyroidectomy volume.

In the second study, 350 adult patients > 18 years of age had a near-total, subtotal, or total thyroidectomy over an 8 year period by a single surgeon, mainly for benign disease (only 14% were for Graves’ disease). Almost 1/3 of patients developed temporary hypoparathyroidism, but only 4% had permanent hypoparathyroidism, all but one of which was not severe. An average of 2.28 parathyroid glands were identified by the surgeon at the time of thyroid surgery. No parathyroid glands were found in 20 patients, 1 in 16 patients, 2 in 126 patients, 3 in 114 patients, and 4 in 41 patients. Central node dissection for cancer and parathyroid autotransplantation increased the risk of temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STUDY?
These papers show that mild temporary hypoparathyroidism after surgery is common in both children and adults. While permanent hypoparathyroidism is rare, it appears to be more common in children and teens than initially reported and is more common after longer, more extensive surgery. Even though it is recommended that the parathyroid glands be identified during surgery, not all parathyroid glands can be identified if the search for them is confined to those that are in the usual locations. Hypoparathyroidism is a chronic illness that greatly impairs quality of life and research should to done to prevent as well as improve treatment of the disease.

— Melanie Goldfarb, MD

Hypothesis  Combined measurement of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and serum calcium (sCa) levels is useful for predicting postoperative hypocalcemia with minimal laboratory effort and low costs.

Design  Prospective analysis of 170 consecutive patients.

Setting  University hospital referral center.

Patients  One hundred seventy patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Defining hypoparathyroidism as albumin-adjusted sCa levels of less than 1.9 mmol/L with or without clinical symptoms or subnormal sCa levels (1.9-2.1 mmol/L) with neuromuscular symptoms, the influences of central lymph node dissection, experience of the surgeon, and parathyroid autotransplantation were observed. We measured the sCa and iPTH levels separately and in combination and the postoperative sCa slope to predict patients who were at risk of hypoparathyroidism.

Main Outcome Measures  Predictive values for iPTH and sCa levels were compared to identify postoperative hypoparathyroidism.

Results  Of the 170 study patients, 41 developed transient hypoparathyroidism and 2 developed permanent hypoparathyroidism. The morphologic features and function of the thyroid gland, central neck dissection, experience of the surgeon, and parathyroid autotransplantation did not influence development of postoperative hypoparathyroidism. The best sensitivity for predicting postoperative hypoparathyroidism was 97.7% for measurement of iPTH levels, and the best specificity was 96.1% for measurement of sCa levels. Negative and positive predictive values reached their best (99.0% and 86.0%, respectively) when we combined sCa and iPTH values.

Conclusions  Patients with iPTH levels of 15 pg/mL or less and sCa levels of 1.9 mmol/L or less are at increased risk of developing postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Measuring iPTH levels 24 hours after total thyroidectomy in combination with sCa levels on the second postoperative day allows the prediction of hypoparathyroidism with a high sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value.

With a reported incidence of 1.6% to 50%,1,2 postoperative hypocalcemia is the most common and sometimes the most severe complication observed after total thyroidectomy. Therefore patients must undergo close postoperative observation and frequent laboratory evaluations. The reasons for postoperative hypoparathyroidism are devascularization of parathyroid glands during surgery owing to the close proximity of the thyroid capsule, the accidental removal of 1 or more parathyroid gland(s), destruction of the parathyroid glands as a result of lymphadenectomy along the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), or hypoparathyroidism due to hematoma formation.3,4

Clinical and biochemically relevant predictive factors for the development of postoperative transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism, as well as how best to time its prediction, constitute a controversial topic in the literature.5-14 Some authors ascribe a high predictive value to intraoperative or early perioperative measurement of parathyroid hormone levels (PTH),5-7,14 challenging the common practice of assessing serum calcium (sCa) levels daily until an increase is observed.13 Others have suggested that sCa concentrations should be measured only in selected patients15 or during the initial 24-hour postoperative period.8-10

This study prospectively evaluated the incidence of transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. The goal was to exert minimal laboratory effort to find a feasible, reasonable, and low-cost strategy for identifying patients at risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, thus allowing patients to be discharged early.

During an 18-month period, 170 consecutive patients undergoing primary total thyroidectomy were prospectively followed up and underwent analysis regarding postoperative parathyroid function. Of these, 59 (34.7%) were male and 111 (65.3%) were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.9. Mean (SD) patient age was 52.9 (16.3) (median, 55; range, 12-86) years. According to the study protocol, hospitalization was 4 (mean, 4; range, 4-7) days. All patients gave their informed consent to participate in this study.

Total thyroidectomy with extended microdissection of both RLNs through their entire cervical extension was performed on every patient. Neuromonitoring was not used. Surgical indication was benign thyroid disease in 98 patients (57.6%), including euthyroid disease in 89 and thyrotoxic nodular goiter in 9. Seventy-two patients (42.4%) showed various types of malignant thyroid tumors, including differentiated thyroid carcinoma in 71 and lymphoma in 1. In 102 patients (60.0%), a bilateral (n = 57) or unilateral (n = 45) central lymph node dissection (CND) was performed before total thyroidectomy. Ninety-eight operations (57.6%) were performed by an advanced specialist in endocrine (thyroid) surgery (B.N.), 5 (2.9%) by a well-trained general surgeon, and 67 (39.4%) by residents guided by an advanced specialist (B.N.).

The parathyroid glands were identified macroscopically, and a meticulous dissection from the thyroid gland was performed. Every effort was made to identify and preserve all parathyroid glands. All 4 parathyroid glands were identified in 116 patients (68.2%), 3 glands in 41 patients (24.1%), and 2 glands in 11 patients (6.5%). No parathyroid glands were localized in 1 patient, and 5 glands were localized in the remaining patient. If parathyroid vascularization could not be preserved along a branch of the inferior thyroid artery, the gland was excised and a specimen was sent for frozen-section analysis. A remnant was preserved in cold isotonic sodium chloride solution, fragmented, and autotransplanted into the sternocleidomastoid muscle at the end of the operation.16 Autotransplantation of parathyroid glands was performed in 85 patients (50.0%). One gland was autotransplanted in 64 patients (75.3%), 2 glands in 19 (22.4%) patients, and 3 glands in 2 patients (2.4%).

Complications other than postoperative hypoparathyroidism were observed in 31 patients (18.2%). Transient postoperative unilateral paralysis of the RLN was documented in 18 patients (10.6%) and permanent (> 6 months) unilateral paralysis in 1 patient (0.6%). Local hematoma or seroma without the necessity of reintervention was seen in 11 patients (6.5%). Pulmonary embolism was suspected clinically and radiologically in 1 patient.

According to the prospective protocol, albumin-adjusted total sCa levels were measured preoperatively and once daily from 6 to 7 AM on postoperative days 1 to 4. A commercially available intact PTH (iPTH) assay (Elecsys 1010; Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) was used to monitor iPTH levels on postoperative days 1 and 4. Intact PTH levels were determined from the same blood samples as the sCa levels. We measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels preoperatively in all patients to exclude vitamin D deficiency.

Postoperative hypoparathyroidism was defined by postoperative albumin-adjusted sCa levels of less than 1.9 mmol/L (to convert to milligrams per deciliter, divide by 0.25) (reference range, 2.10-2.60 mmol/L) with or without clinical symptoms of hypocalcemia (neuromuscular irritability including paresthesia, muscle cramps, tetany, or seizures) or subnormal sCa levels (1.9-2.1 mmol/L) with neuromuscular symptoms during the first 4 postoperative days.

All patients with hypoparathyroidism were prescribed 500 to 1000 mg of oral calcium supplements (calcium monocitrate and calcium dicitrate [Maxi-Kalz; Viatris Pharma, Hamburg, Germany]) and 0.25 μg of vitamin D analogue (calcitriol [Rocaltrol; Roche Diagnostics]) twice a day independent of their clinical symptoms. Intravenous substitution of calcium therapy was unnecessary in this patient series.

Patients with postoperative hypoparathyroidism were discharged when their sCa levels were documented to be higher than 2.0 mmol/L. In these patients, levels of sCa and iPTH were measured again 4 weeks postoperatively after cessation of calcium and calcitriol substitution therapy for 2 days. A final measurement of sCa and iPTH levels was performed 6 months after thyroidectomy. If sCa levels returned to normal within 6 months, hypoparathyroidism was classified as transient; in all other cases, it was classified as permanent.

Predictors of hypoparathyroidism

Serum Ca levels measured on postoperative days 1 and 4 correlated with the iPTH levels measured on the same days. Postoperative sCa levels were plotted as a function of time and the slope was defined as an increase or decrease in sCa levels during 2 consecutive measurements within 48 hours after operation (within 24 hours and on the second postoperative day). We calculated the function to evaluate its predictive value for postoperative normocalcemia or hypocalcemia17 using the following equation:

Slope = [(Calcium Level 2 − Calcium Level 1)/Calcium Level 1]/(Time 2 − Time 1)

Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively) of sCa and iPTH levels, the combination of both, and the calcium slope were calculated using the following equations:

Sensitivity = True Positive Findings/(True Positive + False Negative Findings)

Specificity = True Negative Findings/(True Negative + False Positive Findings)

PPV = True Positive Findings/(True Positive + False Positive Findings)

NPV = True Negative Findings/(True Negative + False Negative Findings)

Statistical analysis was performed with a commercially available statistic software package (SPSS 10.0 for Windows; SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois). The Pearson χ2 test was used for categorical variables, and the paired, 2-tailed t test was used for continuous variables. P < .05 was considered significant.

After total thyroidectomy, sCa levels decreased from preoperative levels in 166 patients (97.6%). Ninety patients (52.9%) showed sCa levels of less than 2.10 mmol/L (reference range, 2.10-2.60 mmol/L). By definition, transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism was seen in 41 patients (24.1%). Two patients (1.2%) developed permanent hypoparathyroidism. In patients without postoperative hypoparathyroidism, the mean (SD) postoperative sCa level on day 1 was 2.13 (0.14) (range, 1.55-2.45) mmol/L; in patients with postoperative hypoparathyroidism, 2.00 (0.13) (range, 1.69-2.30) mmol/L. This difference was statistically significant (P < .001).

Sixty of 127 patients (47.2%) without postoperative hypoparathyroidism and 35 of 43 patients (81.4%) classified as having postoperative hypoparathyroidism because of neuromuscular symptoms showed subnormal sCa levels (1.9-2.1 mmol/L) on the first postoperative day. Eight of 127 patients (6.3%) without postoperative hypoparathyroidism exhibited mild neuromuscular symptoms (paresthesia) on the first postoperative day; however, normal sCa levels were documented.

Thyroid morphologic features and function

Transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism was observed in 24 patients (26.7%) with euthyroid nodular goiter, including 16 of 72 (22.2%) with a malignant thyroid tumor and 1 of 9 (11.1%) with thyrotoxicosis. The differences were not statistically significant. Permanent hypoparathyroidism developed in 1 patient with euthyroid nodular goiter and in another patient with thyrotoxic goiter, whereas no patient with a malignant thyroid tumor showed this condition.

Central lymph node dissection

Twenty-four of 102 patients with CND (23.5%) and 19 of 68 patients without (27.9%) developed transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism (P = .35). Fifty-seven patients (55.9%) underwent bilateral and 45 (44.1%) underwent unilateral CND. There were no significant differences for development of postoperative hypoparathyroidism between patients with unilateral or bilateral CND (P = .85) or between patients without CND or with unilateral (P = .65) or bilateral (P = .52) CND. Neither of the 2 patients with permanent hypoparathyroidism underwent CND.

Parathyroid autotransplantation

Thirty-one of the 85 patients with parathyroid autotransplantation (36.5%) and 12 patients without (14.1%) developed transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism. This difference was statistically significant (P = .001). Both of the patients who developed permanent hypoparathyroidism underwent parathyroid autotransplantation. The number of autotransplanted parathyroid glands did not affect the rate of transient or permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism.

Nineteen of 98 patients (19.4%) undergoing operation by the advanced specialist in endocrine (thyroid) surgery (B.N.), 2 of 5 patients (40.0%) undergoing operation by an experienced general surgeon, and 22 of 67 patients (32.8%) undergoing operation by residents developed transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Both of the patients who developed permanent hypoparathyroidism underwent operation by residents. The differences in transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism owing to the experience of surgeon were not statistically significant.

Prediction of hypoparathyroidism

Predicting hypoparathyroidism on the first postoperative day by measuring total sCa levels showed a sensitivity of total sCa levels of 18.6% with a specificity of 96.1%. The PPV was 61.5% and the NPV was 77.7%. On the second postoperative day, the sensitivity of sCa level measurement rose to 62.8%, with a specificity of 92.9%. The PPV for this measurement was 75.0%, with an NPV of 88.1%.

The highest value of total sCa measurement to predict hypoparathyroidism was documented on the third postoperative day with a sensitivity of 72.1%, a specificity of 92.9%, a PPV of 77.5%, and an NPV of 90.8%. On the fourth postoperative day, a sensitivity of 32.6%, a specificity of 95.3%, a PPV of 76.0%, and an NPV of 83.4% were observed (Table 1).

A positive sCa slope, strongly predictive of a stable postoperative sCa level, showed a sensitivity of 88.4%, a specificity of 35.4%, a PPV of 31.7%, and an NPV of 91.0% (Table 1).

Twenty-two of 127 patients (17.3%) without postoperative hypoparathyroidism showed iPTH levels of less than 15 pg/mL (to convert to nanograms per liter, multiply by 0.1053) (reference range, 15-60 pg/mL) on the first postoperative day. The iPTH level of less than 15 pg/mL was observed in 4 patients as late as the fourth postoperative day. One of 41 patients (2.4%) with transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism had a normal iPTH value on the first postoperative day, and none of these patients had a normal iPTH value on the fourth day. Forty of the 41 patients (97.6%) with transient hypoparathyroidism had normal iPTH levels 4 weeks after the operation. In 1 patient, iPTH levels were in the normal range 6 months postoperatively. Mean postoperative iPTH levels are shown in the Figure.

The sensitivity of iPTH levels as the only predictive value for hypoparathyroidism on the first postoperative day (defining hypoparathyroidism with iPTH levels of 15 pg/mL or less) was 97.7%, with a specificity of 82.6%. The PPV was 65.6% and the NPV was 99.1%. The same sensitivity (97.7%) could be documented for the iPTH levels measured on the fourth postoperative day. On that day, the specificity, PPV, and NPV were 96.1%, 87.5%, and 99.1%, respectively.

Intact PTH levels of less than 15 pg/mL on the first postoperative day were more sensitive to prediction of hypoparathyroidism than iPTH levels of less than 12 or less than 10 pg/mL. The PPV and NPV could be increased to 79.0% and 95.0%, respectively (sensitivity, 88.0%; specificity, 92.0%), when hypoparathyroidism was defined as an iPTH level of 10 pg/mL or less (Table 2).

Combination of sCa and iPTH Levels

Using the combined interpretation, we observed the best result with iPTH values (definition of hypoparathyroidism, an iPTH level of ≤ 15 pg/mL) measured on the first postoperative day and sCa values (definition of hypoparathyroidism, sCa level of < 1.9 mmol/L) measured on the second postoperative day. The combined measurement demonstrated a sensitivity of 96.3% with a specificity of 96.1%, a PPV of 86.0%, and an NPV of 99.0% (Table 2).

In addition to RLN palsy, clinically apparent postoperative hypoparathyroidism is a major and sometimes severe complication after total thyroidectomy.2,3,18-21 Controversy exists over the most relevant factors causing the development of postoperative transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism. Decreased total sCa levels measured on postoperative day 1 were observed in 97.6%. This phenomenon has frequently been debated and often partially explained by hemodilution after surgery.19,21 However, decreasing sCa levels within the first 3 days postoperatively may be caused by the surgical strategy used in this study, such as dissecting the RLN extensively in every patient to avoid permanent RLN palsy. Although performed by microdissection, this procedure may partially interrupt the blood supply of the parathyroid glands, leading to transient hypocalcemia. There was also no additional risk associated with CND in this patient series because no significant difference in the number of patients with and without hypocalcemia could be documented postoperatively by comparing patients with and without CND. This is in contrast to findings by others.22 Furthermore, the surgeon's experience in thyroid surgery did not factor into development of postoperative hypocalcemia.

In a review of the literature, there are different definitions of postoperative hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy, mostly based on total sCa levels.5,17,20,23-25 More recently, the iPTH levels measured intraoperatively, perioperatively, or in the immediate postoperative period are recommended to classify and predict postoperative hypoparathyroidism more clearly.5-7,14 According to different definitions, the rates of developing hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy range from 1.6% to 50%,1,2 which seem to be high and should not occur in specialized endocrine surgical units.

In the present study, postoperative hypoparathyroidism was defined as total sCa levels of less than 1.90 mmol/L, with or without neuromuscular symptoms. Also, patients with subnormal sCa levels and symptoms were classified as patients with hypoparathyroidism. Initial iPTH levels of less than 15 pg/mL were used for a better definition. By definition, transient hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy was documented in 41 of 170 patients (24.1%). An additional 2 patients (1.2%) developed permanent hypoparathyroidism.

Controversy exists concerning the most relevant measurements and the best time for their determination in predicting postoperative transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism. Some studies describe decreasing sCa levels within the first 48 hours after surgery as a safe predictor of postoperative hypoparathyroidism.8-10,13,17 In contrast to these studies, we found that total sCa levels alone, measured during the first 2 postoperative days, cannot predict transient hypoparathyroidism correctly. Sixty of 127 patients (47.2%) without postoperative hypoparathyroidism and 35 of 43 patients (81.4%) classified as having postoperative hypoparathyroidism because of their neuromuscular symptoms demonstrated subnormal sCa levels on the first postoperative day. Eight of the 127 patients (6.3%) had mild neuromuscular symptoms (paresthesia) on the first postoperative day, although normal total sCa levels were documented. Therefore, clinical symptoms may not correlate to biochemical measurements.

Taking total sCa levels as the only measurements to predict the risk of transient or permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism, we observed that total sCa levels of less than 1.9 mmol/L on the third postoperative day have the highest sensitivity (72.1%) and specificity (92.9%) with a PPV of 77.5% and an NPV of 90.8%. The sensitivity of sCa measurements decreased to 32.6% on the fourth postoperative day, whereas the specificity was 95.3%. The fact that some patients developed symptoms and received calcium and calcitriol supplements during the third and fourth days could explain this decrease. Plotting postoperative sCa levels as a function of time with calculation of positive (no risk of hypoparathyroidism) and negative (high risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism9) Ca slopes could not improve the prediction of postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Performing kinetic sCa measurements on the first or second as well as on the second or third postoperative days resulted in sensitivities of 88.4% and 67.0%, respectively; specificities of 35.4% and 64.6%, respectively; and PPVs of only 31.7% and 39.2%, respectively.

The most reliable predictor for determining transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism may be postoperative iPTH measurements. All but 1 of the 43 patients with transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism showed an iPTH level of less than 15 pg/mL. One patient had an iPTH level of 15.2 pg/mL on the first postoperative day, which decreased to 8 pg/mL on the fourth day. Four of 127 patients (3.1%) without hypoparathyroidism had iPTH levels of less than 15 pg/mL. The sensitivity of iPTH measurements (97.7%) did not differ from the first to the fourth postoperative day. The specificity and PPV increased from 82.6% to 96.1% and from 65.6% to 87.5%, respectively.

Some authors recommend intraoperative or perioperative iPTH monitoring using a quick iPTH assay for predicting the postoperative parathyroid function.5,6,11,14 Although Lindblom et al5 found no overall significant difference between measurements of intraoperative iPTH levels and measurements of sCa concentrations on the first postoperative day for predicting long-term hypoparathyroidism, monitoring of intraoperative iPTH levels could predict which patients may need intravenous calcium supplementation during the first 24 hours postoperatively. Intravenous calcium supplementation was not necessary in any of the 170 consecutive patients in this series. However, in most studies recommending intraoperative monitoring of iPTH levels, levels that were less below the normal range at the end of or immediately after the operation were highly correlative with postoperative hypoparathyroidism and seemed to allow for early prediction, with a sensitivity and specificity ranging from 71% to 100%.5-7,14

Monitoring of iPTH levels during thyroidectomy may be easily organized in centers of endocrine (thyroid) surgery. However, most patients with thyroid problems are treated in smaller surgical units. Therefore, monitoring of intraoperative iPTH levels may be a logistical problem and increase the costs. Measurement of iPTH levels on the first postoperative day seems more cost-effective as a reliable tool, with a sensitivity of nearly 100%, to determine patients who are at risk of developing postoperative transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism.

To avoid permanent hypoparathyroidism, autotransplantation of parathyroid glands is recommended.26,27 Zedenius et al25 found that, after routinely transplanting at least 1 parathyroid gland into the sternocleidomastoid muscle, none of their 100 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy developed permanent hypoparathyroidism. A similar experience was reported by Lo and Lam.24 Parathyroid autotransplantation was performed on demand in our series. Both patients with permanent hypoparathyroidism underwent parathyroid autotransplantation. Parathyroid autotransplantation does not provide absolute protection against permanent hypoparathyroidism.3,7

In patients undergoing parathyroid autotransplantation, it is not clear whether the transplant itself, the parathyroids left in situ, or possible supernumerary glands provide sufficient parathyroid function to maintain eucalcemia. Twenty-nine of 41 patients (70.7%) with transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism underwent transplantation of 1 gland or more, whereas 12 patients (29.3%) had no parathyroid autotransplant. The parathyroid function usually recovers within 4 weeks.28 After cessation of calcium and calcitriol supplementation therapy, all but 2 of the 43 patients with iPTH levels of less than 15 pg/mL on the first or fourth postoperative day had normal sCa and iPTH levels 4 weeks or 6 months later. Therefore, hypoparathyroidism was classified as transient in these 41 patients. Hypoparathyroidism in 2 patients with iPTH levels of less than 15 pg/mL after 6 months was classified as permanent, with the sCa levels in these patients at hypocalcemia level without calcium and calcitriol supplementation.

We compared different ranges of iPTH levels for predicting hypoparathyroidism more clearly, and the results of the study show that postoperative iPTH levels of less than 15 pg/mL on the first postoperative day are more sensitive to prediction of hypoparathyroidism than iPTH levels of less than 12 or less than 10 pg/mL.

In this series, measuring iPTH levels 24 hours after total thyroidectomy in combination with sCa levels on the second postoperative day allowed the prediction of hypoparathyroidism with a high sensitivity, specificity, and PPV. Patients with iPTH levels of 15 pg/mL or less and sCa levels of 1.9 mmol/L or less were at increased risk of developing postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Observation of SCa and iPTH levels independently showed different sensitivity and specificity on different postoperative days. Therefore, on the first 2 postoperative days, interpretation of iPTH levels in combination with sCa levels seems an optimal strategy for predicting patients at risk of hypoparathyroidism. This concept makes a safe discharge on the second day possible with minimal laboratory efforts and costs.

Correspondence: Reza Asari, MD, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna A-1080, Austria ().

Accepted for Publication: September 19, 2006.

Author Contributions:Study concept and design: Asari, Passler, Kaczirek, Scheuba, and Niederle. Acquisition of data: Asari and Passler. Analysis and interpretation of data: Asari, Kaczirek, and Niederle. Drafting of the manuscript: Asari. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Passler, Kaczirek, Scheuba, and Niederle. Statistical analysis: Asari and Passler. Administrative, technical, and material support: Asari, Passler, and Scheuba. Study supervision: Kaczirek and Niederle.

Financial Disclosure: None reported.

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How common is hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy?

Purpose of review: Permanent hypoparathyroidism is the most common long-term complication after total thyroidectomy and it can cause significant morbidity and increased costs. Its incidence varies from 30% to 60%.

How quickly does calcium drop after thyroidectomy?

In most cases, the need for supplemental calcium will end after about two weeks.

How long does hypocalcemia last after thyroidectomy?

Transient hypocalcemia, often observed after the operation, generally responds favourably to replacement therapy within a few days or weeks 1. Hypocalcemia is considered permanent when it does not return to normal within 6 months (1.3-3% of cases) 2.

How long after a total thyroidectomy will you feel hypo?

Roughly 5% of people may have temporary symptoms of a low calcium level, known as hypocalcemia , for at least a few weeks after thyroid surgery. 3 It may last for up to six months.