Truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries does not affect the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy on the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy. DESIGN Prospective non-randomised study. SETTING Teaching hospital, Turkey. SUBJECTS 216 patients who had bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for non-toxic nodular goitre between 1990 and 1996. INTERVENTIONS The trunk of the each inferior thyroid artery was simply ligated during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical examination, and measurement of serum calcium, ionised calcium, and inorganic phosphate concentrations before and after operation. RESULTS Four patients (2%) had low concentrations of total and ionised calcium during the postoperative period. On physical examination three of them had spasms of the facial nerve, as seen in tetany. They were given calcium supplements orally and their laboratory results returned to reference ranges within 180 days. No patients developed permanent hypocalcaemia. CONCLUSION Truncal ligation of the inferior thyroid arteries during bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy has no effect on the incidence of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy.