 |
|
Temporary Postthyroidectomy Hypocalcemia
Stephen A. Falk, MD;
Eric A. Birken, MD;
Daniel T. Baran, MD
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1988;114(2):168-174.
Abstract
| |
• The causes of temporary hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy are not well understood. In 18 patients undergoing unilateral (UL) and bilateral thyroid lobectomy (BL), an attempt was made to preserve all parathyroid glands with an intact blood supply. Total calcium (bound and free), free calcium (physiologically active form), albumin, parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin levels were serially measured. After UL, free calcium, parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin levels were unchanged, but total calcium level decreased because albumin level decreased. After BL, total calcium level decreased due to a decrease in albuminbound calcium level. Free calcium level also decreased due to a decrease in parathyroid hormone level. Calcitonin level did not change. Despite careful preservation of the parathyroids and their blood supply, BL is frequently associated with temporary hypoparathyroidism. Techniques for preservation of parathyroid glands with their vascular integrity, correlation of surgical manipulation of parathyroids and calcium level, and calcium binding are discussed.
(Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1988;114:168-174)
Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (Drs Falk and Birken) and Medicine (Endocrinology) (Dr Baran), University of Rochester (NY) School of Medicine.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Oct 26, 1987.
Read before the annual meeting of the American Society for Head and Neck Surgery, Denver, April 29, 1987.
Reprint requests to 4 Coulter Rd, Clifton Springs, NY 14432 (Dr Falk).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
|
