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Early corrected serum calcium value can predict definitive calcium serum level after total thyroidectomy in asymptomatic patients

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Abstract

Introduction

Hypocalcemia is the most common complication of thyroidectomy, requiring supplementation as well as prolonged hospitalization. Our study’s objective was to determine a corrected calcium (CCa) level on day 1 after thyroidectomy predictive of no calcium and vitamin supplementation.

Materials and methods

A single-center prospective study conducted between January 2012 and July 2015 in 396 patients, consisting of 331 cases of total thyroidectomy, with seven completion surgeries. The data collected were age, sex, type of thyroid surgery, etiology, anatomical pathological analysis, and the need for calcium and vitamin supplementation therapy as well as its duration. CCa levels were analyzed 20 and 30 h after surgery then on days 2 and 3. To determine a cut-off value for CCa, a ROC curve analysis was performed. The population was described in terms of numbers and associated percentages for categorical variables, and mean.

Results

Mean CCa on 20 h after surgery was 2.09 mmol/L (p < 0.001) and 30 h was 2.06 mmol/L p = 0.02. CCa of less than 2.13 mmol/L was predictive of calcium and vitamin supplementation with 56% sensitivity and 97% specificity. On the evening of day 1, the cut-off value for CCa was 2.06 mmol/L with 67% sensitivity and 65% specificity.

Conclusion

This prospective study confirms that CCa on the first morning after surgery is reliable when it is more than 2.13 mmol/L. In total, analyzing CCa on day 1 after total thyroidectomy allows the discharge of 70% of patients on the first day after surgery, with no risk of hypocalcemia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, 30 place Henri Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    A. Houette, J. Massoubre, M. Puechmaille, A. Dissard, L. Gilain & N. Saroul

  2. Department of Statistics, Gabriel Montpied University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    B. Pereira

  3. Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, University Hospital Center CHU Gabriel Montpied, Université Clermont Auvergne, 30 place Henri Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    T. Mom

Authors
  1. A. Houette
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  2. J. Massoubre
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  3. B. Pereira
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  4. M. Puechmaille
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  5. A. Dissard
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  6. L. Gilain
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  7. N. Saroul
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  8. T. Mom
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Mom.

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Ethical approval

This work being an observational study, all procedures and blood samples collected from patients are done in routine practice in all patients undergoing thyroidectomy in our institution. All data given in this work are totally anonymous.

Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Houette, A., Massoubre, J., Pereira, B. et al. Early corrected serum calcium value can predict definitive calcium serum level after total thyroidectomy in asymptomatic patients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 275, 2373–2378 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5067-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5067-4

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