Hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy: A 20-year experience at a children's hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is the most common complication of total thyroidectomy and can be an emergency.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of HP after total thyroidectomy in children under 14 years of age, the variables related to its appearance and its clinical expression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study at a children's hospital in the last 20 years. HP was defined by the need to supplement calcium after the intervention and was considered permanent if it could not be suspended within 12 months. Fisher's statistical method of comparison of proportions.

RESULTS: Thirty-nine children and adolescents (26 females) with an age range of 3.67 to 14.00 years. In 25 patients, the intervention was prophylactic and in 14 it was therapeutic. Fourteen suffered accidental excision of some parathyroid gland, but none more than t2 of them. Twelve presented HP, of which 3 were permanent; 5 presented clinical symptoms; one of them was an emergency. The frequency of HP was 4/4 when 2 parathyroids were dissected, 2/10 when one was dissected, and 6/25 when none were dissected (P=.02). In the prophylactic interventions, it was 6/25 compared to 6/14 in the therapeutic ones (P=.29). The 3 cases of permanent HP were in children under 6 years of age, and it did not occur in any older children (P=.09).

CONCLUSIONS: HP is a common and sometimes serious complication in children after total thyroidectomy. It can occur, and even be permanent, even if the intervention is prophylactic and parathyroid glands remain in situ. Younger age could be a risk factor.