IS THE PARATHYROID FUNCTION EFFECTED BY LIGATION OF THE INFERIOR THYROID A DURING BILATERAL SUBTOTAL THYROIDECTOMY?

Abstract

We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries on the parathyroid function. Fourty patients with non-toxic and non-malign noduler goitre were included in this study. in 20 patients in group 1 we performed bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy, in 20 patients in group 2 both the ligation of the trunks of the inferior thyroid arteries and bitateral subtotal thyroidectomy. Total calcium, ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone levels were determined before the operation and consequently in the 6th, 24th and 72nd hours after surgery in all patients. Twenty-nine patients were followed up for 2 months after operation. Although laboratory hypocalcemia were found in 9 patients (45%) in group1 and in 11 patients (55%) in group 2, symptomatic hypocalcemia were only seen in 1 patient in group 1. No statistically significant differences were found between two groups regarding total calcium, ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone levels. In this study we concluded that truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy does not result in hypoparathyroidism or in hypocalcemia.