Difficult airway management and emergency tracheostomy in a patient with giant goiter presenting with respiratory arrest: A case report

Abstract

Giant goiter is commonly asymptomatic or progresses with nonspecific symptoms, such as pain, hoarseness and dysphagia. In rare cases, enlargement of the thyroid may cause compression of the trachea and lead to life-threatening complications. As a result of iodization programs implemented throughout the world to address iodine deficiency disorders, giant goiter is rare today. Although not common, the disease may result in a difficult airway in cases of tracheal compression. The present study shares our experience of a giant retrosternal goiter in a patient presenting with respiratory arrest who underwent emergency tracheostomy after multiple attempts at orotracheal intubation and then thyroidectomy during an intensive care stay due to the development of tracheomalacia.