Transient hypoparathyroidism following thyroidectomy : A prospective study and multivariate analysis of 604 consecutive patients

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism in a group of patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Study Design A prospective study was conducted on 604 patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Subjects and Methods Gender, final diagnosis, extent of resection, biology of pathology, intrathoracic involvement, surgery for recurrent multinodular goiter, and presence and number of parathyroid glands in a surgical specimen were analyzed as risk factors for postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism. The chi-square test and a logistic regression analysis were applied. Results On logistic regression analysis, only the extent of surgery constituted an independent variable for transient hypoparathyroidism ( P = 0.001). Conclusion The extent of surgery to central and/or lateral neck lymph nodes is responsible for a high rate of transient hypoparathyroidism owing to a high probability of unplanned parathyroidectomy or parathyroid gland devascularization.