Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Delayed recovery from post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism: a case report

M S Claussen1, G B Pehling, W A Kisken

  • 1Department of General Surgery, Gundersen/Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.

Wisconsin Medical Journal
|July 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

This case study highlights a patient experiencing severe hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery. Supplementation was eventually discontinued, suggesting potential delayed parathyroid function recovery.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A novel inborn error in the ligand-binding domain of the vitamin D receptor causes hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets.

Molecular genetics and metabolism·2001
Same author

The rapid low-dose (1 microgram) cosyntropin test in the immediate postoperative period: results in elderly subjects after major abdominal surgery.

Surgery·1999
Same author

A Muir-Torre syndrome family.

The American surgeon·1998
Same author

Dexamethasone-induced congestive heart failure in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy caused by occult pheochromocytoma.

Surgery·1998
Same author

Management of thyroid cancer of follicular cell origin: Gundersen/Lutheran Medical Center, 1969-1995.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons·1997
Same author

Neoplasms in long-term Hartmann's pouches.

Wisconsin medical journal·1996

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Surgical Case Reports

Background:

  • Subtotal thyroidectomy for hyperthyroidism can lead to complications such as hypocalcemia.
  • Hypocalcemia post-thyroidectomy is often managed with calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Observation:

  • A patient developed carpopedal spasms, parathesias, and severe hypocalcemia (6.9 mg/dL) 13 hours after subtotal thyroidectomy.
  • Postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were undetectable, indicating severe hypoparathyroidism.
  • The patient required intravenous and oral calcium and calcitriol for stabilization.

Findings:

  • Serum calcium levels normalized over 10 months, allowing gradual discontinuation of supplementation.
  • Initially undetectable PTH levels increased to 36 pg/mL after 2 years, though still relatively low.

Related Experiment Videos

  • This represents a rare case of long-term post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia with documented undetectable parathyroid function and spontaneous improvement.

    • Implications:

    • Delayed recovery of parathyroid function may occur in some patients post-thyroidectomy.
    • This case suggests that supplementation may be safely discontinued in select patients with severe hypoparathyroidism.
    • Further research into the long-term recovery patterns of parathyroid function after thyroid surgery is warranted.