Hypercalcaemic crisis: immediate parathyroidectomy and intraoperative intravenous calcium infusion improves outcome.

The hypercalcaemic crisis of hyperparathyroidism is an endocrine emergency that is invariably fatal if untreated. Despite emergency parathyroidectomies to treat hypercalcaemic crisis, mortality rates remain high. The rapid decline of serum calcium levels after removal of an adenoma and its adverse effect on the heart contributes to the development of postoperative complications and death. The cornerstone of surgical treatment for hypercalcaemic crisis is to begin infusion of high doses of calcium immediately after successful removal of parathyroid adenomas to allow gradual and well-controlled decline of serum calcium to avoid fatal myocardial complications.