Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia in King Abdullah University Hospital and Princess Basma Teaching Hospital, Jordan

Background: Thyroidectomy is one of the major and delicate operations commonly performed in surgical units. This study was aimed at determining the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy operation among patients who underwent thyroidectomy in two teaching hospitals in the north of Jordan. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 152 patients who underwent thyroidectomy in two teaching hospitals in the north of Jordan. Their medical records were reviewed to evaluate the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia. Information about sex, age, extent of surgery, thyroid pathology, serum calcium level and the inadvertent removal of parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy was collected. Results: Postoperatively, 44 (29.0%) patients had their serum calcium decreased but remained within the normal range. Ten (6.6%) of the patients had transient hypocalcaemia while 4 (2.6%) had permanent hypocalcaemia. Most patients with hypocalcaemia had benign disease. Ten (6.6%) patients had had inadvertent removal of parathyroid glands but only one of them had transient hypocalcaemia. Conclusions: The incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia is low but exists and should be considered as a possible post-thyroidectomy complication.