Risk Factors for Postoperative Hypocalcemia Following Total Thyroidectomy: a Retrospective Study

Background: and Objectives: Hypocalcemia is a commonly reported complication after thyroid surgery. Many possible risk factors have been identified. The purpose of this study is to analyze various risk factors possibly associated with development of postoperative hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery by dividing the sample population into postoperative hypocalcemia and normal calcium groups.

Design: Retrospective.

Setting: Multiple centers in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia.

Patients And Methods: Risk factors for postoperative hypocalcemia that were obtained for analysis include patient factors, perioperative blood parameters factors, disease-related factors, and surgical factors. Postoperative hypocalcemia was defined as a reduction of the total calcium level to <8.0 mg/dL. Hypocalcemic and normocalcemic patients were compared by multivariate logistic regression.

Main Outcome Measures: Distinguish independent risk factors for postoperative hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy.

Sample Size: 215 patients.

Results: The incidence of hypocalcemia was 52.1% (112 of 215 patients). According to multivariate analysis, statistically significant risk factors for predicting postoperative hypocalcemia included postoperative parathyroid hormone level <10 pg/dL, inadvertent parathyroid gland resection, and neck dissection surgeries.

Conclusion: The causes of postoperative hypocalcemia are multi-factorial. Because many of these factors are modifiable, they should be identified postoperatively to distinguish high-risk groups and implement early preventive measures.

Limitations: Retrospective with a relatively small size. We encourage additional prospective studies with a larger sample size in multiple regions of the country, which might reveal further significant results.