Perioperative management of a patient with myxedema coma and septicemic shock

Abstract

Myxedema coma is a life-threatening but uncommon complication of long-standing, neglected hypothyroidism. It was first reported by Ord in 1879. Till date only around 200 cases have been reported in literature. The incidence in European countries is 0.22 per million per year. No epidemiological data is available from the Indian subcontinent. We are reporting the case of an elderly lady who went into life-threatening myxedema coma along with septicemic shock, and was successfully treated with oral thyroxine.