[Surgical preparation in hyperthyroidism and therapy of thyrotoxic crisis]

Any type of hyperthyroidism with an indication for surgical treatment requires adequate medical preparation. A major reason for this postulate is avoidance of hyperthyroid crisis. Medical control of severe hyperthyoidism is best achieved by antithyroid drugs, mild cases of thyroid autonomy maybe sufficiently pretreated by beta-adrenergic blockers. Hyperthyroid crisis due to iodine contamination of a goiter with a considerable mass of autonomously functioning tissue may require acute and early surgery if medical control fails or does not show improvement within a few days.