Improving postthyroidectomy care using a parathyroid hormone and calcium-based algorithm.

INTRODUCTION

Thyroidectomy is a fundamental therapeutic intervention for various thyroid disorders, yet it entails significant risks, including iatrogenic hypoparathyroidism. Since 2019, our institution has implemented a standardized postthyroidectomy protocol using parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium measurements to stratify hypocalcemia risk and guide calcium and alfacalcidol supplementation.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of this structured approach in reducing unscheduled referrals due to hypocalcemia within 3 weeks after total thyroidectomy and evaluate the utility of early postoperative PTH levels in predicting permanent hypoparathyroidism (PhP).

METHODS

A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, including 373 adult patients who underwent total/completion thyroidectomy between January 2014 and April 2025. Patients were assigned to either the postprotocol implementation cohort (PPC) (N = 154) or the historic cohort (N = 219), depending on whether surgery occurred after or before protocol implementation, and subsequently compared.

RESULTS

Unscheduled referrals were significantly more frequent in the historic cohort than in the PPC (19.2% vs 11%, respectively, P = .034), and the introduction of the protocol was associated with a significant reduction in the odds of these referrals. Early postoperative PTH levels were a significant predictor of unscheduled referrals (P = .003), postoperative hypocalcemia (P < .001) and PhP (P < .001). A postoperative PTH cutoff of 1.7 pmol/L was identified as a clinically meaningful threshold for PhP prediction, demonstrating 100% sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Subject to assay availability and workflow efficiency, implementation of this protocol may reduce postthyroidectomy emergency consultations and readmissions, improving healthcare resource utilization and optimizing follow-up.