Abstract

Objective: Permanent hypoparathyroidism is one of the most distressing complications following throidectomy. Apart from preservation of parathyroid glands in situ by meticulous dissection, parathyroid autotransplantation has been performed increasingly to avoid permanent hypoparathyroidism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes in patients undergoing thyroidectomy with parathyroid autotransplantation. Study design: From 2002 to 2005, "ive parathyroid autotransplantation was performed for devascularized or inadvertently removed glands in 18 (5.08%) of 354 patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Results: Total postoperative hypocalcemia occured in 5 (27.7%) of the parathyroid autotransplantation patients, and four patient had transient hypoparathyroidism, whereas 1 patient had permanent hypoparathyroidism. None of the 336 patients who did not undergo parathyroid autotransplantation had permanent hypoparathyroidism. Conclusion: ive autotransplantation of the parathyroid glands should be performed whenever the parathyroid is devascularized or damaged. ive approach to parathyroid outotransplantation is an effective strategy for minimizing the rate of the permanent hypoparathyroidism.

Key words: Thyroidectomy, parathyroid outotransplantation, hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism