[Postoperative hypoparathyroidism: Direct para-operative period].

Surgical hypoparathyroidism is a severe complication of the operations on thyroid gland. Hundred thirty patients aged between 17 and 77 years have been analysed clinically. Group I involved 45 patients with surgical hypoparathyroidism of transient or partial character, group II involved 85 patients with severe irreversible surgical hypoparathyroidism. Hypocalcemia in postoperative period was significantly higher in group II than that in group I (p < 0.02), and negatively correlated with the maximal dose of vitamin D3 necessary to compensate calcemia (r = -0.42). Follow-up results indicate that the age and sex of patients, preoperative diagnosis, radiotherapy, and type of surgery have no effect on the degree of damage to parathyroid glands, tetany development rate, degree of hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. High degree hypocalcemia diagnosed in the early postoperative period suggests irreversible injury to parathyroid glands. Management of patients with postoperative tetany requires a close cooperation of surgeon and endocrinologist.