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Use of pre-operative calcium and vitamin D supplementation to prevent post-operative hypocalcaemia in patients undergoing thyroidectomy: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2021

A S Khatiwada  and
A S Harris
A S Khatiwada*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
A S Harris
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Aagat Sharma Khatiwada, Department of Otolaryngology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK E-mail: aagat.sharmakhat@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective

This systematic review aimed to establish the evidence behind the use of pre-operative calcium, vitamin D or both calcium and vitamin D to prevent post-operative hypocalcaemia in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

Method

This review included prospective clinical trials on adult human patients that were published in English and which studied the effects of pre-operative supplementation with calcium, vitamin D or both calcium and vitamin D on the rate of post-operative hypocalcaemia following total thyroidectomy.

Results

Seven out of the nine trials included reported statistically significantly reduced rates of post-operative laboratory hypocalcaemia (absolute risk reduction, 13–59 per cent) and symptomatic hypocalcaemia (absolute reduction, 11–40 per cent) following pre-operative supplementation.

Conclusion

Pre-operative treatment with calcium, vitamin D or both calcium and vitamin D reduces the risk of post-operative hypocalcaemia and should be considered in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy.

Keywords

ThyroidectomyGraves DiseaseVitamin DHydroxycholecalciferolsCalcitriolCalciumCalcium CarbonateHydrochlorothiazideHypocalcemiaHypoparathyroidism

Information

Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 7 , July 2021 , pp. 568 - 573
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr A S Khatiwada takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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