Endocrinology & Metabolic Syndrome
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-1017
ISSN: 2161-1017
Mark R Burge, Fares Qeadan, Eyas Alkhalili and Mark D Ehrhart
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, US
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Endocrinol Metab Syndr
Purpose of Study: Postoperative hypo-calcemia is common after total thyroidectomy. Prior data suggest that preoperative Vitamin D Deficiency (VDD) is associated with an increased risk of postoperative hypo-calcemia and a prolonged Length of Stay (LOS) after total thyroidectomy. We here expand a previous study by employing a large, multi-institutional, de-identified database of Electronic Health Records (EHR). We hypothesize that patients with pre-operative VDD are more likely to suffer from postoperative hypo-calcemia and prolonged hospitalization. Methods: Using Cerner HealthFacts (a consolidated, relational database of EHR from 60,000,000 patients), we identified 923 patients who underwent total or subtotal thyroidectomy between 2010 and 2016 using ICD9 codes. Patients were excluded if they did not have a vitamin D level obtained within 12 months before surgery, or if they underwent para-thyroidectomy or partial thyroidectomy. 421 patients who met criteria were analyzed. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D�?�20 ng/ml. Post-operative lab values were obtained within 10 days of thyroidectomy. Results: VDD patients (n=232) were older (p=0.03) and more likely to be non-hispanic Caucasian (p=0.03) as compared to Non-VDD patients (n=189). Total and corrected post-op calcium levels were lower in the VDD group. VDD patients had a longer LOS (p<0.05) and were more likely to require post-op intubation or tracheostomy (p<0.01). Conclusions: Pre-operative vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of postoperative hypo-calcemia, airway instability and prolonged LOS in patients receiving total thyroidectomy. Vitamin D replacement before thyroidectomy may improve postsurgical outcomes in VDD patients.
E-mail: MBurge@salud.unm.edu