Incidence of post-operative hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy - a retrospective study

Post-operative hypocalcaemia following thyroidectomy can lead to distressing symptoms and increase the period of hospitalization. Iatrogenic injury to parathyroid glands is the primary cause for hypocalcaemia. Aim This study aims to describe the incidence of postoperative hypocalcaemia and its demographic distribution. Method A retrospective analysis was made in 240 consecutive patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy in the professorial surgical unit, Teaching Hospital Jaffna. The post-operative calcium level, symptoms and signs of hypocalcaemia were considered and correlated with their demographic details and histology report of the specimen. Results The overall incidence of hypocalcaemia was 10.83% (n=26). Among them, 96.15% (n=25) had transient hypocalcaemia and 88.46% had symptomatic hypocalcaemia (n=23) with biochemical evidence of hypocalcaemia. The rate of inadvertent parathyroidectomy was 6.25%. Conclusion Hypocalcaemia is common in the first three days of postoperative period and most of the hypocalcaemic events are transient.