Early Prediction of Hypocalcemia after Thyroidectomy using Parathyroid Hormone: An Analysis of Pooled Individual Patient Data from Nine Observational Studies

PTH assay, when checked 1 to 6 hours after thyroidectomy, has excellent accuracy in determining which patients will become symptomatically hypocalcemic. Routine use of this assay should be considered because it may allow earlier discharge of the normocalcemic patient and earlier identification of patients requiring treatment of postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia.