Hypomagnesemia predicts postoperativebiochemical hypocalcemia after Thyroidectomy

Madhava Rao; Ranganath Reddy; Prabhakar Reddy

Volume : IX, Issue : IX, September - 2019

Hypomagnesemia predicts postoperativebiochemical hypocalcemia after Thyroidectomy

Madhava Rao, Ranganath Reddy, Prabhakar Reddy

Abstract :

Hypocalcemia is the most common complication of total thyroidectomy. It is important to identify and avoid high–risk surgical techniques to lower the rate of this complication. Additionally, by knowing risk factors of hypocalcemia, lower risk patients can be discharged earlier. In this study we aim to understand the surgical, patient–related, and disease–related and laboratory risk factors of transient hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy To investigate the role of magnesium in biochemical and symptomatic hypocalcemia, a retrospective study was conducted.For the safety of patients, the possibility of both symptomatic and biochemical hypocalcemia should be con¬sidered together before deciding early discharge. Using intact PTH for symptomatic hypocalcemia and day–1 ionized serum calcium level for biochemical hypocalcemia will be helpful for the reliable prediction of heterogeneous nature of postoperative hypocalcemia. Proper surgical techniques and identification of the parathyroid glands is important in preventing hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. Additionally, for predicting hypocalcemia the relative and not absolute PTH levels should be more emphasized.