The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 50, 831-832, Copyright © 1990 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Acute hypercalcemic crisis after an open heart operation
F Siclari, G Herrmann and H Dralle
Thorax-Herz-Gefass Chirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany.
Acute hyperparathyroidism developed in a previously normocalcemic 64-
year-old woman during the first week after a coronary operation. Prolonged
QT interval in the electrocardiogram and hypercalcemia were documented on
the fourth postoperative day. Neck exploration on the fifth postoperative
day revealed a lower right parathyroid adenoma. Parathyroidectomy resulted
in rapid and dramatic improvement of the clinical picture and normalization
of laboratory values.