A Clinical Study of Hypocalcemia Following Total Thyroidectomy in Tertiary Care Centre

Background: Hypocalcemia has become a common complication following thyroid surgeries ever since the widespread use of total thyroid ectomy for the treatment of thyroid disorders. This problem, although life threatening at times, can be adequately treated in the vast majority with no long term sequelae if recognized early in the post-operative period. Postoperative hypocalcemiais associated with morbidity and health care costs, but is rarely fatal . Therefore, it is important to identify and avoid high-risk surgical techniques and management practices that are associated with higher incidence of hypocalcemia. Aim: To estimate the incidence of hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy and to correlate hypocalcemic features with ionized calcium level. Materials and Methods: The present study included 104 patients who underwent total or completion thyroidectomy in various surgical units from January 2020 to January 2022 in the Department of General Surgery, Thiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Thiruvannamalai. Results: This study was performed in a series of 104 patients of which 97 were females and 7males.Most commonly middle age group (30-50 years) were affected by thyroid diseases. Majority of patients had non toxic multi nodular goiter. Incidence of hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy was 37% Transienthypocalcemia-33.5%.Permanent hypocalcemia-1.9%. Conclusion: I concluded that transient hypocalcemia is the most common complication following total thyroidectomy. The incidence of post operative hypocalcemia is 36% [transient hypocalcemia 33.5% and permanent hypocalcemia1.9%].Proper planning and meticulous surgical techniques needed in localization and preserve blood supply to the parathyroids by ligating the branches of inferior thyroid artery individually without any compromise in parathyroid blood supply especially in thyroid malignancy, toxic goitre and Hashimoto?s thyroiditis. Adequate and timely intervention is necessary in patients at risk for post operative hypocalcemia and for treatment of all symptomaric patients with calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation.