Truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries does not affect the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy

Objective: To assess the effect of truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy on the incidence of hypoc alcaemia after thyroidectomy. Design: Prospective non-randomised study, Setting: Teaching hospital, Turke y. Subjects: 216 patients who had bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for non-tox ic nodular goitre: between 1990 and 1996. Interventions: The trunk of the each inferior thyroid artery was simply lig ated during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy. Main outcome measures: Clinical examination, and measurement of serum calci um, ionised calcium, and inorganic phosphate concentrations before and afte r operation. Results: Four patients (2%) had low concentrations of total and ionised cal cium during the postoperative period. On physical examination three of them had spasms of the facial nerve, as seen in tetany. They were given calcium supplements orally and their laboratory results returned to reference rang es within 180 days. No patients developed permanent hypocalcaemia. Conclusion: Truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilate ral subtotal thyroidectomy has no effect on the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy.