Calcium Strategy Following Thyroidectomy

Investigators compare routine prophylaxis vs postoperative parathyroid hormone-guided supplementation.

1

Selective calcium and calcitriol supplementation based on postoperative parathyroid hormone levels was not superior to routine prophylactic supplementation.
2

The study involved 258 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy at three tertiary hospitals in Colombia.
3

Symptomatic hypocalcemia occurred in 9% of patients, with rates of 8% in the PTH-guided group and 11% in the routine group.
4

Postoperative supplementation was required less often with the selective strategy, reducing the proportion of patients needing it by about 65 percentage points.
5

Adverse events and complications were similar between both groups, with no cases of acute kidney failure reported.

1