Prospective evaluation of intra-operative quick parathyroid hormone assay as an early predictor of post thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia

Abstract

Parathyroid hormone assay twenty minutes after thyroidectomy is an accurate and reliable means of predicting clinically relevant hypocalcemia. Patients with PTH values greater than 9 pmol/L twenty minutes after thyroidectomy, can be safely discharged on the same postoperative day as the probability of life threatening hypocalcemia is unlikely.