ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical significance of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) detection of postoperative serum and surgical drainage in predicting parathyroid function. MethodsThe clinical data of 50 patients with thyroid cancer performed total thyroidectomy from January 2013 to July 2013 in the PLA General Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.In this cohort, there were 49 pappillary carcinomas and 1 medullary carcinoma.All the patients received total thyroidectomy andⅥlymph nodes dissection, and 18 of these patients received neck lymph nodes dissection additionally.The negative pressure drainage was placed in the operated area, and the drained fluid and blood were tested for iPTH level on the first day and the third day postoperatively. ResultsThe preoperative iPTH levels were within the normal range for all the patients.The postoperative serum iPTH level was (12.85±10.50) ng/L (4.64-13.15 ng/L) and (17.45±11.33) ng/L (7.33-26.50 ng/L) on the first day and the third day, respectively, there was no significant difference of the postoperative serum iPTH levels between the first day and the third day (P=0.293).The postoperative surgical drainage iPTH level was (1 550.29±1 678.18) ng/L (5 000-112 ng/L) and (566.73±753.99) ng/L (2 065-2.81 ng/L) on the first day and the third day, respectively, there was no significant difference of surgical drainage iPTH between the first day and the third day too (P=0.060). ConclusionsBy detecting the postoperative surgical drainage iPTH level combined with serum iPTH level, it could better predict the function of parathyroid after total thyroidectomy, and correctly assess the prognosis of patients.