Intraoperative diagnosis and treatment of thyroid storm in a 15-year-old male

Thyroid storm, a severe complication of hyperthyroidism, can be a devastating medical emergency requiring rapid management. Intraoperative thyrotoxicosis, a hypermetabolic syndrome with increased thyroid hormone levels, also presents a challenging scenario. Clinical suspicion is key along with eliminating other potentially catastrophic emergencies such as malignant hyperthermia or pheochromocytoma. In this case report, we describe a 15-year-old male undergoing halo traction placement for displaced dens and C1 fractures. Preoperative tachycardia and a history suggestive of hyperthyroidism raised our clinical suspicion for thyrotoxicosis when hypertension and tachycardia developed after induction of anesthesia.