INFERIOR THYROID ARTERY LIGATION TO AVOID HYPOCALCEMIA AFTER THYROIDECTOMY

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the importance of Ligation of the inferior thyroid artery to avoid post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Methods: We conducted an observational study at the North Surgical department of Mayo Hospital, Lahore for one-year duration from May 2019 to May 2020. We randomized all patients undergoing partial and total thyroidectomy into two groups. Group I had the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) ligated, but in group II ITA was not ligated. Results: 100 patients were operated on, most of them women. A type of transient hypocalcemia was observed in 4.5% of patients in group I and 3.5% of patients in group II. Persistent hypocalcemia was observed in 1.5% and 1.10% of patients in Groups I and II, respectively. The results were statistically insignificant (p value> 0.6). Conclusion: In our study, ITA ligation was performed as a significant factor in the occurrence of postoperative hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy. Key words: inferior thyroid artery, thyroidectomy, hypocalcemia, hypothyroidism