Early Postoperative Parathyroid Hormone Level as a Predictor of Hypocalcaemia after Total Thyroidectomy

Postoperative transient hypocalcaemia is a common squeal after total thyroidectomy usually due to parathyroid insufficiency. Objective of this study is to find out the optimum cut-off value of parathyroid hormone (PTH) level in early postoperative period as a best predictor for hypocalcaemia. This prospective observational study was carried out from July 2013 to July 2014 in the Department of Surgery Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital (SSMC&MH), in collaboration with department of Otolaryngology SSMC&MH, department of Otolaryngology Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and department of Otolaryngology Dhaka Medical College & Hospital (DMC&H), Dhaka. Total 92 patients were selected those came for total thyroidectomy. PTH was measured at different percentile 6 hours after surgery to find out optimum cut-off point. In 47.5th percentile at 8.02 cut-off point of PTH found with good combination of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, accuracy and it was 83.33%, 91.66%, 90.90%, 84.62% and 91.30% respectively. We found PTH level as a predictor of hypocalcaemia and PTH 8.02pg/ml was the optimum cut-off point to predict hypocalcaemia within 6 hours after total thyroidectomy.