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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Minimal Invasive Resection of Large Retrosternal Thyroid Goiter
Published on: September 20, 2024
Acute airway obstruction in the puerperium secondary to massive thyroid enlargement
C I Okeke1, N A Merah, O A Atoyebi
1Department of Anaesthesia, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria. chinweok@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Pregnancy is known to be thyrogenic and may exacerbate features of thyroid disease. We report the case of a patient whose pregnancy was complicated by respiratory symptoms following remarkable increase in size of a pre-existing goitre. She declined surgery during the pregnancy and it was rescheduled for after the puerperium. A week postpartum she developed acute airway obstruction which necessitated urgent thyroidectomy and management of tracheomalacia with a tracheostomy postoperatively. The effect of pregnancy on the course of her disease and the anaesthetic challenges in the face of limited airway equipment are highlighted.
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