In a multicenter randomized clinical trial of 258 adult patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for benign or malignant disease, selective calcium and calcitriol supplementation guided by postoperative parathyroid hormone levels was compared with routine prophylactic supplementation to prevent postoperative hypocalcemia. Researchers found no significant difference in symptomatic hypocalcemia between the selective group (7.8%) and routine supplementation group (11.1%), indicating that either strategy may be used based on clinical context and resource availability, although selective management required less calcium supplementation overall.

Source: JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery