[Respiratory complications in compressive goiters]

Authors' experience in respiratory complications of compressive goiter is reviewed. Three cases with typical symptoms, relative therapy and outcome are reported. Appearance of respiratory distress should urge to avoid delay in elective surgery performing. In case of acute respiratory failure, immediate emergency tracheostomy is mandatory, subsequently followed by elective intervention. In case of malignancy, if radical surgery is not possible, tracheostomy is the short and medium-term palliative surgical treatment of choice.