HYPOCALCEMIA IN TOTAL VERSUS SUBTOTAL THYROIDECTOMY

Objective: To compare the occurrence of hypocalcemia in patients undergoing subtotal and total thyroidectomy. Study Design: Comparative prospective study. Place and Duration of Study: Surgical departments of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad and Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Mar 2018 to Feb 2020. Methodology: A total of 171 patients were selected for this study and they were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 95 patients undergoing Total thyroidectomy whereas group 2 had 76 patients undergoing Subtotal thyroidectomy. It was a comparative prospective study and the groups were made by convenience sampling. The data was analyzed by SPSS-23. Results: In total thyroidectomy group Hypocalcemia was detected after 48 hours in 34 patients (35%) while in subtotal thyroidectomy group hypocalcemia was detected in 20 patients (28%). Tests for hypocalcemia were also done after two months of surgery and low levels were detected in 7 patients (7.5%) who had total thyroidectomy and in 2 patients (5%) in the group undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy. There was no significant difference in hypocalcemia after 48 hour (p=0.22) and 2 months postoperatively (p=0.6) between patients of Total Thyroidectomy and Subtotal Thyroidectomy. Conclusion: Total thyroidectomy is not associated with increased risk of permanent hypocalcemia as compared to Subtotal thyroidectomy. Because of its advantages Total thyroidectomy should be the preferred surgical procedure for patients presenting with benign euthyroid multi nodular goiter.

Incidence of hypocalcaemia among post-thyroidectomy patients at a tertiary care hospital at Trivandrum, Kerala, South India

Background: Hypocalcemia is one of the most common complications of thyroid surgery. It is usually temporary, but it may rarely take several months to resolve. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of hypocalcaemia after total thyroidectomy and assess the biochemical factors that may be predictive of hypocalcemia.Methods: An observational study was conducted in 98 patients at the general surgery department of a tertiary care medical college hospital for a period of one year. Convenient method of sampling was done. All the patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were included in this study. The serum calcium level was evaluated at different times in the post-operative period as a part of the routine post-operative care at the hospital. During the postoperative period patients were carefully watched for clinical symptoms and signs of hypocalcemia.Results: In the study group, 19 (19.4%) had hypocalcemia. In the study group, 14 (14.3%) had symptomatic hypocalcemia and 5 patients (5.1%) had asymptomatic hypocalcemia. 18 patients (18.4%) had temporary hypocalcemia and 1 patient (1%) had permanent hypocalcemia. Among the patients with hypocalcemia, 18 (95%) were females and 1 (5%) patient was male. 13 (68%) patients were euthyroid, 5 (26%) patients were hyperthyroid and 1 (5%) patient was hypothyroid. Significant association was seen between diagnosis of thyroid disorders and hypocalcemia, thyroid function and hypocalcemia and between operating time and hypocalcemia.Conclusions: Incidence of hypocalcemia in patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy was found to be less. Majority of them had temporary hypocalcemia and permanent hypocalcemia was seen only in one patient.

Complications After Thyroidectomy in Children: Lymph Node Dissection Is a Risk Factor for Permanent Hypocalcemia

BackgroundThyroidectomy is a treatment option in some benign thyroid disorders and the definitive treatment option for thyroid cancer. As postoperative mortality is extremely rare data on postoperative complications and long-term health consequences are important.ObjectiveTo evaluate the frequencies of short- and long-term complications, and their risk factors in pediatric patients (0-18 years) who underwent a thyroidectomy in a tertiary children’s hospital.MethodsA retrospective single center study was performed including all pediatric patients who underwent a thyroidectomy between January 2013 and February 2020.ResultsForty-eight patients were included in this study (mean age 14.6 years). Twenty-nine total thyroidectomies and 19 hemithyroidectomies were conducted. Thyroid carcinoma was the indication to perform a thyroidectomy in 12 patients, 36 patients underwent a thyroidectomy because of a benign thyroid disorder. Postoperative hypocalcemia was evaluated in patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy. Rapidly resolved hypocalcemia was observed in three patients (10.3%), transient hypocalcemia in 10 patients (34.5%) and permanent hypocalcemia in six patients (20.7%). Permanent hypocalcemia was only seen in patients who underwent a thyroidectomy combined with additional lymph node dissection because of thyroid carcinoma [thyroid carcinoma: OR 43.73, 95% CI (2.11-904.95); lymph node dissection: OR 76.14, 95% CI (3.49-458.98)]. Transient and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was reported in four (8.3%) and one (2.1%) of all patients, respectively.ConclusionPermanent postoperative complications after thyroidectomy are rare in pediatric patients undergoing a thyroidectomy without lymph node dissection. However, in this age group permanent hypocalcemia occurs more frequently after thyroidectomy with additional lymph node dissection because of thyroid cancer. With respect to quality of life, especially of pediatric thyroid cancer patients, reducing this complication is an important goal.

Study of incidence of hypocalcaemia in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for papillary carcinoma: a retrospective study

Background: Hypocalcaemia following total thyroidectomy is a fairly common complication. Occurrence of acute hypocalcaemia can be predicted in patients undergoing thyroid surgery for malignancy, based on serial calcium measurement and this helps in early prediction of hypocalcaemia. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of post thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia and methods to treat hypocalcaemia and prevention of its complication at the earliest.Methods: The incidence of hypocalcemia was analysed with serial calcium estimation in immediate post-operative period, 4 hours and 24 hours after surgery and on 5th post-operative day. The factors analysed included pre-operative and post-operative serum calcium levels, clinical features, the disease type and factors related to surgery and histopathologically diagnosis as malignant papillary thyroid carcinoma is confirmed.Results: In this study 30 patients underwent total thyroidectomy for papillary carcinoma were studied. Incidence of 22% of hypocalcemia, with transient hypocalcemia in 20% and permanent hypocalcemia in 2% of cases were noted. Conclusions: Patients underwent thyroid surgery for malignant conditions showed higher incidence and severity hypocalcaemia. This complication can be prevented with meticulous peroperative dissection, prompt identification of parathyroid gland. Avoiding injury or spasm of the blood vessels supplying them and frequent postoperative monitoring of serum calcium levels.

Post-operative hypocalcemia in patients undergoing thyroid surgeries in tertiary care hospital: an observational study

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Post-operative hypocalcaemia is one of the most common complications of thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Temporary hypocalcaemia has been reported to occur in 1.6-50% of the patients undergoing bilateral thyroid resection. Permanent hypoparathyroidism results in 0-13% of patients after bilateral thyroid surgery.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We have analyzed the data of 34 patients undergoing total thyroid surgery (with or without neck dissection) and completion thyroidectomy at the department of ENT and HNS, SMHS hospital over a period of 1.5 years between May 2019 to November 2020.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Hypocalcemia was found in a total of 15 patients out of 34 patients in the post-op period. Among the total patients who developed hypocalcemia 5 (14.7%) were males and 10 (29.4%) were females. Among the patients who developed post-op hypocalcemia 14 patients developed transient hypocalcemia (p&gt;0.01) which is not statistically significant and 1 patient developed permanent hypocalcemia (p&gt;0.01) which also has no statistical significance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study suggests that female gender is a strong risk factor for developing post-operative hypocalcemia, other factors that play a role include difference in serum calcium levels in the perioperative period and type of surgery.</p>

Comparing the Outcomes of Thyroid Surgical Procedures for Benign Diseases with Expertise of the Surgeon in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Background: There is a lack of standardized guidelines regarding selection of appropriate thyroid surgery for patients with benign diseases. As a result, an inexperienced surgeon may select a more aggressive surgical option, which may increase the complication rate. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of thyroid surgical procedures for benign diseases with the expertise of the surgeon.Material and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study from 1999 to 2018. The study setting is of a public sector tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients undergoing thyroid surgery (lobectomy with isthmusectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy (STT), near total thyroidectomy (NTT), or total thyroidectomy (TT)) were included. Expertise level 1, 2 and 3 (L1, L2, L3) of the surgeon was based on years of experience or number of thyroid surgeries to their credit. Postoperative complications (hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) damage, airway obstruction, hemorrhage and mortality) were measured against type of thyroid surgery and expertise of the surgeon.Results: A total of 833 thyroid surgeries were performed on 695 (83.43%) females and 138 (16.57%) males. About 502 (60.26%) STT, 228 (27.37%) TT, 61 (7.32%) NTT, 42 (5.04%) lobectomies with isthmusectomies were performed, with LI, 2, and 3 surgeons performing 21.25%, 45.74% and 33% of these procedures, respectively. Surgeons with L1, 2 and 3 levels of expertise caused 49.47%, 33.45% and 17.08% of adverse events, respectively. Permanent hypocalcemia, RLN damage and mortality were significantly more common in surgeries performed by L1 compared with L2 and L3 surgeons (P<.05). Transient and permanent hypocalcemia, transient and permanent RLN damage and mortality were significantly more common for total thyroidectomy compared to subtotal thyroidectomy (P<.01).Conclusions: Minimizing the occurrence of complications like permanent hypocalcemia, RLN damage and mortality, expertise of the surgeon and anticipated difficulty of the procedure needs to be taken into account while selecting a thyroid procedure.

Combined cervicosternotomy and cervicotomy for true retrosternal goiters: a surgical cohort study

Objective Intrathoracic goiters are a heterogeneous group characterized by limited or extensive substernal extension. Whereas the former can be treated through cervicotomy, the latter sometimes requires a cervicosternotomy. Whether cervicosternotomy leads to more morbidity remains unclear. This study aimed to compare intra- and postoperative morbidity in patients treated by cervicotomy or cervicosternotomy for intrathoracic goiters and standard thyroidectomy. Methods In a prospectively gathered cohort undergoing thyroid surgery (2010–2019) intra- and postoperative morbidity of cervicotomy (N = 80) and cervicosternotomy (N = 15) for intrathoracic goiters was compared to each other and to a ‘standard’ thyroidectomy (N = 1500). Results An intrathoracic extension prior to surgery was found in 95 (6%) of all thyroidectomies. Eighty patients (84%) were operated by cervicotomy and 15 (16%) by cervicosternotomy. The risk of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was much higher in the cervicosternotomy group (21%) compared to cervicotomy (4%) and standard thyroidectomy (3%). The risk of temporary hypocalcemia after cervicotomy (28%) was comparable to a standard thyroidectomy (32%) but higher after cervicosternotomy (20%). No cases of permanent hypocalcemia or laryngeal nerve palsy were observed in both groups with substernal extension. The need for surgical reintervention was significantly higher in the cervicotomy group (6%) compared to cervicosternotomy (0%) and standard thyroidectomy (3%). Conclusion In patients undergoing thyroid surgery for an intrathoracic goiter, cervicosternotomy was associated with more temporary laryngeal nerve palsy, but none of the interventions resulted in higher risks of permanent nerve damage, permanent hypocalcemia, or reintervention for bleeding. Reintervention was even more common after cervicotomy compared to cervicosternotomy. Level of evidence IV

A Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors for Transient and Permanent Hypocalcemia After Total Thyroidectomy

BackgroundAs hypocalcemia is the most common complication of total thyroidectomy, identifying its risk factors should guide prevention and management. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE through January 31, 2019, and assessed study quality using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.ResultsFifty studies with 22,940 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 24.92% (5716/22,940) had transient hypocalcemia and 1.96% (232/11,808) had permanent hypocalcemia. Significant (P &lt; 0.05) predictors of transient hypocalcemia were: younger age, female, parathyroid autotransplantation (PA), inadvertent parathyroid excision (IPE), Graves’ disease (GD), thyroid cancer, central lymph node dissection, preoperative severe Vitamin D deficiency, preoperative Vitamin D deficiency and a lower postoperative 24 h parathyroid hormone (PTH) level. Preoperative magnesium, preoperative PTH and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis were not significant predictors of transient hypocalcemia. IPE, GD, and thyroid cancer were associated with an increased rate of permanent hypocalcemia, but gender and PA did not predict permanent hypocalcemia.ConclusionImportant risk factors for transient and permanent hypocalcemia were identified. However, given the limited sample size and heterogeneity of this meta-analysis, further studies are required to confirm our preliminary findings.

Thyroidectomy in Pediatric Patients with Graves’ Disease: A Systematic Review of Postoperative Morbidity

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Graves’ disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. In children, the overall relapse frequency after treatment with antithyroid drugs is high. Therefore, many pediatric GD patients eventually require thyroidectomy as definitive treatment. However, the postoperative complications of thyroidectomy in pediatric GD patients are poorly reported. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To identify the frequency of short- and long-term postoperative morbidities after thyroidectomy in pediatric GD patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A systematic review of the literature (PubMed and Embase) was performed to identify studies reporting short- and long-term postoperative morbidities after thyroidectomy in pediatric GD patients according to the PRISMA guidelines. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Twenty-two mainly retrospective cohort studies were included in this review evaluating short- and long-term morbidities in 1,424 children and adolescents. The frequency of transient hypocalcemia was 22.2% (269/1,210), with a range of 5.0–50.0%. The frequency of permanent hypocalcemia was 2.5% (36/1,424), with a range of 0–20.0%. Two studies reported high frequencies of permanent hypocalcemia, 20.0 (6/30) and 17.4% (9/52), respectively. The 20% frequency could be explained by low-volume surgeons in poorly controlled GD patients. Only 21 cases of permanent hypocalcemia were reported in the 1,342 patients included in the other 20 studies (1.6%). Transient and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were reported less frequently, with frequencies between 0–20.0 and 0–7.1%, respectively. Infection, hemorrhage/hematoma, and keloid development were only rarely reported as postoperative complications. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The results of this systematic review suggest that thyroidectomy is a safe treatment option for pediatric GD patients. The minority of patients will experience transient and benign morbidities, with hypocalcemia being the most common transient postoperative morbidity. Permanent postoperative morbidities are relatively rare.