Postoperative Symptomatic Hypocalcemia Following Total Thyroidectomy

Total thyroidectomy is a commonly performed surgery for thyroid diseases such as multinodular goiter. One of the most frequent complications after this procedure is hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels), which may cause symptoms such as tingling around the mouth, muscle cramps, and in severe cases, spasms or confusion. This condition usually occurs within the first 24-72 hours after surgery and may delay hospital discharge and increase patient discomfort. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of preoperative calcium plus vitamin D3 supplementation versus calcium supplementation alone in preventing postoperative symptomatic hypocalcemia in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. Patients diagnosed with multinodular goiter and planned for surgery will be randomly assigned into two groups. One group will receive calcium with vitamin D3 for seven days before surgery, while the other group will receive calcium alone for the same duration. After surgery, patients will be monitored for symptoms of hypocalcemia and their serum calcium levels will be checked at 6, 24, and 48 hours, as well as at a follow-up visit on day 14. The main outcome of the study is the occurrence of symptomatic hypocalcemia in both groups. The results of this study may help determine whether adding vitamin D3 to preoperative calcium supplementation provides better protection against hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital stay.