Preoperative vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for postoperative hypocalcemia in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy: retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The relationship between preoperative vitamin D deficiency and postoperative hypocalcemia in cases of total thyroidectomy (TT) is a matter of controversy and may vary according to geographical scenarios and populations. OBJECTIVE: The objective here was to evaluate whether preoperative vitamin D deficiency was associated with postoperative symptomatic hypocalcemia in a population in South America. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cohort study on data from all patients undergoing total thyroidectomy, with or without central compartment lymph node dissection, from Jan...