%0 Journal Article
%T Role of Postoperative Intact Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Predicting Hypocalcaemia after Thyroidectomy.
%A Aimon S
%A Altaf HN
%A Latif S
%A Farooqui F
%A Khan S
%A Amir M
%J J Coll Physicians Surg Pak
%V 34
%N 7
%D 2024 Jul
%M 38978249
%F 1.022
%R 10.29271/jcpsp.2024.07.828
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To determine the sensitivity and specificity of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels in predicting hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery, Shifa International Hospital and Shifa Foundation, Islamabad, from May 2021 to 2022.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The sample size was calculated to be 205 with consecutive non-probability sampling. Serum iPTH levels and serum calcium levels were measured postoperatively at 6 hours and 24 hours and recorded in a proforma for analysis. After collection, the data were entered and analysed using SPSS version 24.0.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Among 205 patients, 157 (76.6%) were females and 48 (23.4%) were males. At 6 hours postoperatively, 121 (59%) patients had normal iPTH levels and 123 (60%) patients had normal serum calcium levels (p = 0.15). At 24-hour, 130 (63.4%) patients had normal iPTH levels and 92 (44.9%) patients had normal serum calcium levels (p = 0.001). Overall, 8 (3.9%) patients developed symptomatic hypocalcaemia (p = <0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of iPTH levels at ≤15 pg/ml were 100% and 70%, respectively, but at 24 pg/ml cut-off level, the specificity increased to 90% with sensitivity of 100%.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Low serum iPTH levels at 6 hours after surgery can predict hypocalcaemia in patients undergoing thyroidectomy, even if serum calcium levels appear normal at that time.<BR><B>BACKGROUND: </B>Parathyroid hormone, Serum calcium, Hypocalcaemia, Total thyroidectomy, Calcium homeostasis.