Use of Parathyroid Hormone Assay after Thyroidectomy: A Survey of US and European Surgeons

INTRODUCTION: Hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy results in prolongation of hospitalization and patient discomfort but can be predicted by PTH assays. However, there is considerable variation in their use. METHODS: This study was undertaken to document current US and European practice patterns regarding the use of this assay. Anonymous surveys were collected in 2009-2011 from members of the American Academies of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Endocrine Surgery and the European, Italian, French, Spanish and British Societies of Endocrine Surgery. RESULTS: There were 356 American (3% response) and 61 European (10% response) respondents. 105 (29.8%) American and 25 (41%) European respondents reported routine PTH assay use. Fellowship trained surgeons reported increased use of the PTH assay (P = 0.004). Shorter reported average post-operative hospital stay was associated with American physicians (P = 0.0001), community practice location (P = 0.0002) and routine calcium supplementation (P = 0.0015). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical training was associated with routine use of the PTH assay. Average reported hospital stay was lower for American and community practice physicians and correlated with post-operative oral calcium use.