FREQUENCY OF TRANSIENT AND PERMANENT HYPOCALCEMIA AFTER TOTAL, NEAR TOTAL OR SUBTOTAL THYROIDECTOMY.

Objective: To find out frequency of clinical and laboratory, transient or permanent hypocalcemia following total, subtotal or near total thyroidectomy. Materials and methods: This case series study was conducted at teaching hospital in Lahore, Pakistan from January to October 2017. Sample size was 50 patients who underwent total, subtotal or near total thyroidectomy. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomly selected. These patients were either males or females belonging from 20 to 70 years of age. Patients admitted in postoperative ward in surgical department were included after taking informed written consent. Serum calcium level was performed in all patients enrolled in study population. Results: The mean age of patients was 40.15±4.1 years. Out of 50 patients, 46 (92%) were females and 4 (8%) were males. 15 patients (30%) had post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia, out of which 13(86.67%) had transient hypocalcemia while remaining 2 (13.33%) had permanent hypocalcemia. 70%(35) patients had simple or multinodular goiter. Subtotal thyroidectomy was performed on 68% (34) patients. Conclusion: Post-thyroidectomy transient hypocalcemia is commonly seen in patients undergoing thyroidectomy, however permanent hypocalcemia is rarely associated with thyroidectomy. Majority of patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. Key Words: hypocalcemia, thyroidectomy, transient, permanent