Premium
Airway Obstruction due to Goiter in Older Patients
Author(s) -
Zorrilla Lilian,
Tsai Jir,
Freedman Michael
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1989.tb06681.x
Subject(s) - medicine , goiter , airway obstruction , life expectancy , airway , esophagus , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , surgery , thyroid , population , environmental health
It has been shown that goiters can progressively enlarge to compress the surrounding trachea or esophagus and result in incapacitating obstructive symptoms or potentially fatal airway obstruction. 1–3 The potential of a goiter to become hyperactive also exists. Recently, we have seen three older patients with longstanding untreated “benign” goiters who presented difficult management decisions. Given the likelihood of progressive growth of a goiter and the increased life expectancy of these patients with goiters, it is essential to perform flow‐volume loop studies while following these patients.