One of the complications of thyroid surgery when the whole gland is removed (total thyroidectomy) is hypocalcaemia.

Hypocalcaemia occurs when the blood calcium levels fall resulting in tingling in the hands, lips and feet and occasionally muscle cramps.

Hypocalcaemia occurs because the small parathyroid glands around the thyroid stop working after the surgery either due to injury to the gland itself, their blood supply or because they are removed at operation.  This is a surgeon dependent complication.

National Audit data (British Association of Thyroid and Endocrine Surgeons, 2009) shows the rate of hypocalcaemia to be 29.6% after total thyroidectomy.  This means that nearly 1 in 3 patients nationally have to take calcium tablets after surgery because of this complication. 

Mr McLaren takes part in the National Audit and his patients suffer this complication in less than 3% of cases - a ten fold improvement on the national average. 

For some patients this can make a big difference as longterm problems from hypocalcaemia include - muscle aches and cataract formation in addition to the need to take calcium supplements.