POSTOPERATIVE TETANY A STUDY BASED UPON 40 TREATED CASES
- 1 May 1952
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Acta Endocrinologica
- Vol. 10 (1) , 1-16
- https://doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.0100001
Abstract
24 cases of tetany developed in 1230 patients operated on for goiter. 21 of these occurred in 555 patients with hyperthyroidism. The diagnosis is possible only if the serum Ca is detd. pre- and post-operatively on all patients. In some cases, hypocalcemia occurred without reflex changes; in 1 of these, cataract developed before Trousseau or Chvostek signs became positive. When the postoperative serum Ca is 10% or more below the preoperative level, parathyroid insufficiency can be diagnosed. The treatment of choice is Ca gluconate for acute spasms, and calciferol for long-term control. Spontaneous cure may occur, when damaged parathyroids regenerate postoperatively.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- FURTHER STUDIES ON PSEUDO-HYPOPARATHYROIDISM: REPORT OF FOUR NEW CASESActa Endocrinologica, 1950