Death following the surgical removal of a parathyroid tumor or following the accidental removal of the parathyroid glands in the course of a thyroidectomy is sufficiently rare to justify the report of such a case and a discussion of the probable causes of death following removal of a parathyroid adenoma when the use of calcium salts, vitamin D and parathyroid extract and transplantation of parathyroid tissue failed.
Aub1 was the first to report and analyze the failure of parathyroid extract to control parathyroid tetany after thyroidectomy.
The patient at the age of 18 underwent a subtotal thyroidectomy twice within the year 1917 for symptoms of exophthalmic goiter of three years' duration. Two months after the second operation, attacks of choking and carpopedal spasm with edema of the face and extremities developed. Two years after the second thyroidectomy, operation was necessary for bilateral cataract. Parathyroid extract was first given in