OBJECTIVE

To explore the changes of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium alter total thyroidectomy and summarize the methods to prevent and treat the hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcernia.

METHOD

Seventy-three patients with total thyroidectomy in our hospital were divided into three groups according to the scope of the operation. The serum concentrations of PTH and calcium were measured and compared before surgery and after surgery 1 h, 1 d, 3 d and 5 d.

RESULT

In three groups, the serum concentrations of PTH and calcium were significantly decreased (P<0. 05) after surgery and low serum PTH and hypocalcemia occured. The severity of low serum PTH and hypocalcemia was as follows: total thyroidectomy with bilateral compartment lymph node dissection (CLND)>total thyroidectomy with unilateral CLND>total thyroidectomy. The differences were statistically significant. The levels of PTH after surgery 1 hour and 1 day were effective to predict hypocalcemia.

CONCLUSION

Total thyroidectomy can affect the parathyroid function. The greater the scope of surgery, the higher the possibility of postoperative hypoparathyroidism. The reasonable operative procedures and more protection of parathyroid during operation can reduce the incidence of hypoparathyroidism. The level of postoperative PTH can be used as a predictive index of hypocalcemia.