The role of vitamin D in post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia: Still an enigma

Background There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Recent reports show postoperative parathormone (PTH) is unreliable in predicting post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia in vitamin D deficient patients. We conducted this study to analyze the role of vitamin D status in the development of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and to evaluate its effect on the predictability of PTH as a marker for post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Method A retrospective review of prospectively collected data of patients undergoing thyroidectomy between August 2007 to September 2013 ( n = 150) was performed. Results of preoperative calcium, albumin, vitamin D, PTH and postoperative calcium, albumin, and PTH were collated. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on their vitamin D status: group A, vitamin D ≥ 20 ng/mL and group B, vitamin D