How to Remedy Mistaken Parathyroid Glands in Thyroid Surgery

Thyroid surgery that inadvertently injures the parathyroid glands may cause the patient to develop postoperative hypokalemia or even permanent hypoparathyroidism. This can be remedied with medications and other treatments such as parathyroid hormone replacement therapy as prescribed. When the parathyroid glands are mistakenly injured, parathyroid hormone secretion decreases, blood calcium will fall, hypocalcemia occurs, and hyperphosphatemia is present, which causes numbness and tingling in the limbs as well as around the mouth, facial muscle spasm, twitching of the hands and feet, epileptiform seizures, laryngospasm, and other manifestations. Other treatments such as drugs, surgery and parathyroid hormone replacement therapy may be given according to the condition. 1. Asymptomatic: If the damage to the parathyroid glands is mild and there are no symptoms such as hypocalcemia, usually no treatment is needed, and attention should be paid to rest and recuperation, waiting for the parathyroid glands to recover slowly. 2. Acute stage: If hypocalcemia occurs, 10% calcium gluconate can be injected intravenously during the acute stage. For those with severe convulsions that are stubborn and difficult to be relieved, continuous intravenous calcium infusion can be used, and blood calcium level can be monitored regularly to avoid hypercalcemia. 3. Non-acute stage: long-term oral calcium is needed, and oral vitamin D and its derivatives can be used to correct hypocalcemia. For hypomagnesemia, magnesium supplementation should be given immediately. 3. Irreversible injury: For severe injury to the parathyroid glands with permanent loss of function, parathyroid hormone replacement therapy or gene therapy can be considered. Thyroid surgery accidental injury to the parathyroid glands should be treated with medication under the guidance of a doctor.