A postoperative parathyroid hormone-based algorithm to reduce symptomatic hypocalcemia following completion/total thyroidectomy: A retrospective analysis of 591 patients. Surgery 2018 Oct;164(4):746-753
Date
08/04/2018Pubmed ID
30072256DOI
10.1016/j.surg.2018.04.040Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85050680555 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 17 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: An institutional protocol for selective calcium/calcitriol supplementation after completion/total thyroidectomy was established based on the 4-hour postoperative parathyroid hormone level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of this protocol 5 years after implementation.
METHODS: All patients who underwent completion/total thyroidectomy from January 2012 to December 2016 were reviewed. Predictors of a 4-hour parathyroid hormone level <10 pg/mL and symptomatic hypocalcemia were assessed.
RESULTS: Of 591 patients, 448 (76%) had a 4-hour parathyroid hormone ≥10, 72 (12%) had a 4-hour parathyroid hormone of 5-10, and 71 (12%) had a 4-hour parathyroid hormone <5. Hypocalcemic symptoms were infrequent (30/448, 7%) if the 4-hour parathyroid hormone was ≥10; 56% (40/71) of those with a 4-hour parathyroid hormone <5 reported symptoms. With 4-hour parathyroid hormone of 5-10, symptoms were reported in 32 of 72 (44%) patients; supplementation at discharge included calcium (n = 55, 76%), calcium and calcitriol (n = 12, 17%), or none (n = 5, 7%). Ten patients subsequently received calcitriol for persistent symptoms. On multivariate analysis, predictors of 4-hour parathyroid hormone <10 included incidental parathyroidectomy, malignancy, and thyroiditis; predictors of hypocalcemic symptoms included age <55 and 4-hour parathyroid hormone <10.
CONCLUSION: After completion/total thyroidectomy, patients with a 4-hour parathyroid hormone ≥10 can be safely discharged without routine supplementation. The addition of calcitriol to calcium supplementation should be strongly considered for patients with a 4-hour parathyroid hormone of 5-10.
Author List
Mazotas IG, Yen TWF, Park J, Liu Y, Eastwood DC, Carr AA, Evans DB, Wang TSAuthors
Douglas B. Evans MD Chair, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinTracy S. Wang MD, MPH Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Tina W F Yen MD, MS Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAlgorithms
Calcitriol
Calcium
Female
Humans
Hypocalcemia
Male
Middle Aged
Needs Assessment
Parathyroid Hormone
Postoperative Complications
Retrospective Studies
Thyroidectomy
