Biomaterial Database

The management of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. 1996

L Szubin, and A Kacker, and R Kakani, and A Komisar, and S Blaugrund

Department of Otolaryngology, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY 10021, USA.

Postoperative hypocalcemia was studied in 40 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for a malignancy or massive goiter. Parameters evaluated included serum calcium, phosphate and magnesium levels. All patients exhibited a postoperative decline in serum calcium, however, the lowest serum calcium level was not seen until 48 hours after surgery. Serum calcium levels returned to normal in five to six days after surgery in 37 patients. Five patients required calcium supplementation for either symptomatic hypocalcemia or serum calcium levels lower than 7.0 mg/dl. Only three of these five patients were discharged home on oral calcium supplements. In this series, we discovered that the critical period for monitoring of serum calcium was 24 to 96 hours after surgery. If serum calcium replacement was not needed in the first 72 hours after surgery, it would not be needed during the remainder of the patient's hospital course. In addition, we found that serum magnesium levels should also be monitored in the postoperative period and corrected if low.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006996	Hypocalcemia	Reduction of the blood calcium below normal. Manifestations include hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, Chvostek's sign, muscle and abdominal cramps, and carpopedal spasm. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Hypocalcemias
D007262	Infusions, Intravenous	The long-term (minutes to hours) administration of a fluid into the vein through venipuncture, either by letting the fluid flow by gravity or by pumping it.	Drip Infusions,Intravenous Drip,Intravenous Infusions,Drip Infusion,Drip, Intravenous,Infusion, Drip,Infusion, Intravenous,Infusions, Drip,Intravenous Infusion
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002125	Calcium Gluconate	The calcium salt of gluconic acid. The compound has a variety of uses, including its use as a calcium replenisher in hypocalcemic states.	CBG,Calciofon,Calcipot,Calcium Braun,Calcivitol,Calglucon,Ebucin,Flopak Plain,Glucal,Glucobiogen,Gluconate de Calcium Lavoisier,Gluconato Calc Fresenius,Gluconate, Calcium
D005260	Female		Females
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man