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Post‐thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is a major contributing factor in delayed hospital discharge and dissuading surgeons from ambulatory thyroidectomy. We prospectively evaluated the accuracy and reliability of quick parathyroid hormone level measurement at skin closure (PTH‐SC) in predicting clinically relevant hypocalcemia (i.e., patients requiring calcium ± calcitriol supplements on hospital discharge).

Of the 117 patients who underwent a total or completion total thyroidectomy and PTH‐SC, 17 (14.5 %) had hypocalcemic symptoms or adjusted calcium <1.90 mmol/L requiring calcium and/or calcitriol supplements on discharge. Serum calcium was checked regularly in the perioperative period until stabilization and an additional quick PTH was checked on the following morning (PTH‐D1). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate potential preoperative …