[Hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery]

Serum calcium plays an important biological role in the organism. Normal level of the ionized part of serum calcium is indispensable for nerve conduction, enzyme activity, hormonal reaction and many other processes. Thyroid operations are connected with a risk of hypocalcaemia--more frequently transient (up to 6 months), and sometimes persistent. Thyroid operation correctly done enables to avoid hypocalcaemia of surgical causes such as excision, ischaemia or trauma to the parathyroids. There are also many causes of postoperative hypocalcaemia independent of surgical precision e.g. metabolic (bone hunger), drug-induced, and other. Persistent hypoparathyroidism causes a number of troublesome symptoms. The possibility of such complication after thyroid operation should be reduced to minimum.