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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach for Thyroid Lobectomy
Published on: May 12, 2023
Routine postoperative administration of vitamin D and calcium after total thyroidectomy: a meta-analysis
Alvaro Sanabria1, Luis C Dominguez, Valentin Vega
1Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana, Bogota, Campus Puente del Comun, Km 21 Autopista Norte, Chia, Colombia. alvarosanabria@gmail.com
Background:
Temporary hypocalcemia is a frequent complication after total thyroidectomy. Routine postoperative administration of vitamin D and calcium can reduce the incidence of symptomatic postoperative hypocalcemia. We undertook a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of this intervention.
Methods:
We identified randomized controlled trials comparing the administration of vitamin D or metabolites to oral calcium or no treatment in patients after total thyroidectomy in MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS databases.
Results:
Four studies with 706 patients were included: 346 in the calcitriol group, 288 in the oral calcium group and 72 in the control group. The rates of hypocalcemia symptoms were 4%, 19% and 31%, respectively. The OR value for the comparison between calcitriol + calcium as compared to no treatment and to exclusive calcium treatment groups was 0.32 (95% CI, 0.13-0.79) and 0.31 (95% CI, 0.14-0.70), respectively.
Conclusion:
The prophylactic treatment with vitamin D or metabolites + calcium is effective to decrease the incidence of symptoms of temporary hypocalcemia.
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