Introduction: Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is a common complication that may present with symptoms
ranging from mild tingling to severe convulsions. Conventionally, patients undergoing thyroid surgery are
monitored in hospitals for several days for serial calcium a ssessments. This complication arises in approximately
30–60% of patients, primarily due to impaired parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion following inadvertent injury or
dysfunction of the parathyroid glands during surgery.
Objective: To assess and compare the patterns of corrected serum calcium fluctuations after thyroid and non -
thyroid neck surgeries.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Otolaryngology -Head & Neck
Surgery, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January to June 2022. A total of 90 patients undergoing thyroid or
other neck surgeries under general anesthesia were included. Patients with prior parathyroid disorders, history of
calcium supplementation, or previous neck radiation were excluded.
Results: Of the 90 patients, 42 underwent thyroid surgery and 48 underwent non-thyroid procedures. A statistically
significant drop in serum calcium was noted immediately post-surgery in both groups. However, calcium levels
generally returned to near preoperative levels by post-operative day four. The observed changes were comparable
between both groups.
Conclusion: Transient hypocalcemia is not exclusive to thyroidectomy. Immediate post-operative calcium decline
appears to be influenced more by haemodilution and surgical stress than by the specific type of neck surgery.
Monitoring corrected calcium is essential for guiding post-operative management.