Implications of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery on Hypocalcemia in Total Thyroidectomy: A Narrative Review - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Hypocalcemia Risk After Total Thyroidectomy: A Narrative Review

  • By

  • Rachael Caretti

  • Daniel Gomez-Carrillo

  • Emma Anne McKinley

  • Hameeda Arif Arain

  • Sophie Dream

  • Andrea Gillis

  • Brenessa Lindeman

  • Herbert Chen

  • October 10, 2026

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  • 1

    Roux-en-Y gastric bypass bypasses the duodenum and jejunum, reducing calcium absorption and potentially compounding transient hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy.

  • 2

    Evidence on postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy in patients with prior RYGB remains limited and consists largely of case reports, case series, and retrospective cohorts.

  • 3

    A 35-patient study found a higher rate of permanent, but not transient, hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy among patients with prior RYGB than among controls.

  • 4

    Reports frequently describe preoperative laboratory abnormalities consistent with reduced calcium and vitamin D absorption, even when patients lack clinical symptoms.

  • 5

    No established guidelines or standardized algorithms address preoperative screening or postoperative hypocalcemia management specifically for patients with prior RYGB.

Original Source(s)

Implications of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery on Hypocalcemia in Total Thyroidectomy: A Narrative Review

  • by Rachael Caretti, Daniel Gomez-Carrillo, Emma Anne McKinley, Hameeda Arif Arain, Sophie Dream, Andrea Gillis, Brenessa Lindeman, Herbert Chen

  • October 10, 2026

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