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Predictors of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia: a systematic and narrative review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2020

A E L McMurran Open the ORCID record for A E L McMurran [Opens in a new window] ,
R Blundell  and
V Kim
A E L McMurran*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, St John's Hospital at Howden, Livingston, Scotland, UK
R Blundell
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
V Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Ms A E Louise McMurran, Department of Otolaryngology, St John's Hospital at Howden, Howden W Road, LivingstonEH54 6PP, Scotland, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective

Hypocalcaemia is the most common complication after total or completion thyroidectomy. This study assesses recent evidence on predictive factors for post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia in order to identify the patients affected and aid prevention.

Method

Two authors independently assessed articles and extracted data to provide a narrative synthesis. This study was an updated systematic search and narrative review regarding predictors of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia using the Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane and Cinahl databases. Results were limited to papers published from January 2012 to August 2019.

Results

Sixty-three observational studies with a total of 210 401 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median incidence was 27.5 per cent for transient biochemical hypocalcaemia, 12.5 per cent for symptomatic hypocalcaemia and 2.2 per cent for permanent hypocalcaemia. The most frequent statistically significant predictor of hypocalcaemia was peri-operative parathyroid hormone level. Symptomatic hypocalcaemia and permanent hypocalcaemia were seen more frequently in patients undergoing concomitant neck dissection.

Conclusion

Many factors have been studied for their link to post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia, and this study assesses the recent evidence presented in each case.

Keywords

HypocalcemiaThyroidectomyPostoperative Complications
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 134 , Issue 6 , June 2020 , pp. 541 - 552
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2020

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Footnotes

Ms A E L McMurran takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

The findings from an earlier version of this study were presented at the ENT Scotland Summer Meeting, 11 May 2018, Dunblane, Scotland, UK.

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