Endocrine: Thyroidectomy

Abstract

In this chapter the essential aspects of anesthesia for thyroid surgery are reviewed. An emphasis is placed on airway management of the thyroid patient as well as on drug therapy prior to anesthetizing thyroid patients. Myxedema coma and thyroid storm are reviewed in detail. The patient discussed is to undergo resection of a goiter. The chapter is divided into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative sections with important subtopics related to the main topic in each section. Preoperative topics discussed are patient hemodynamics, use of beta blockers, airway assessment, and antithyroid therapy, including iodine. Intraoperative issues covered include monitoring, awake fiber-optic intubation, and management of bleeding. Postoperative issues addressed include extubation and treatment of postoperative stridor.