C. Nies et al., PARATHYROID FUNCTION FOLLOWING LIGATION OF THE INFERIOR THYROID ARTERIES DURING BILATERAL SUBTOTAL THYROIDECTOMY, British Journal of Surgery, 81(12), 1994, pp. 1757-1759
A randomized controlled trial was performed to compare two techniques
of bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for non-toxic nodular goitre with
regard to postoperative parathyroid function. The 50 patients in group
1 underwent ligation of the trunks of the inferior thyroid arteries.
In group 2 (50 patients) the branches of these arteries were suture-li
gated at the thyroid capsule. Total calcium, ionized calcium and parat
hyroid hormone levels were determined before operation, and 6, 24 and
72 h after surgery. Ninety-one patients were seen at follow-up 5-10 mo
nths after operation. Ten patients in group 1 and 12 in group 2 requir
ed calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation for symptomatic hypocalcae
mia in the immediate postoperative period. At follow-up only one patie
nt in each group had mild hypoparathyroidism. No statistically signifi
cant differences were found between groups regarding total calcium, io
nized calcium and parathyroid hormone levels. Truncal ligation of the
inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy does
not cause hypoparathyroidism or hypocalcaemia.