Prophylactic Infusion of Calcium Gluconate Reducing the Rate of Hypocalcaemia After Total Thyroidectomy

Overview

Post-total thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia is a common complication with the rate ranging from 13-49% in a meta-analysis. However, the rate in UMMC in 2018 and 2019 were 40% and 23% respectively. It lead to prolonged hospital stay and patient dissatisfaction in the event of hypocalcaemia. Research question: Does prophylactic intravenous calcium infusion reduces the rate of post-total thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia? This study will conduct in UMMC endocrine surgery unit with the target population who scheduled for total thyroidectomy in UMMC between 1/6/2020-1/6/2022. After obtaining consent from participants, they will be randomised into intervention and placebo group with the ratio of 1:1. Intervention group will receive the intravenous calcium gluconate infusion and placebo group will receive saline infusion within 4 hour of skin closure. Both groups will have their serum calcium measure at 6,12,24,36,48-hour mark post surgery. Both groups will receive same oral calcium supplements.

All participating patients will be randomised into intervention and placebo arm with 1:1 ratio. Intervention group will receive 1 ampoule of intravenous calcium gluconate within 4 hours of post total thyroidectomy, whereas the placebo group will received 100ml of normal saline only. Both groups will receive same oral calcium supplements post surgery. Both groups will have their serum calcium measure at 6,12,24,36,48-hour mark post surgery.

Conditions