Open AccessChallenging airway management in a patient with retrosternal goiter presenting in respiratory distress
Author(s) -
Babatunde Osinaike,
Alaba Olusola Ogunsiji,
Olufunke C Joseph
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nigerian journal of surgery/nigerian journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7100
pISSN - 1117-6806
DOI - 10.4103/njs.njs_58_19
Subject(s) - medicine , airway obstruction , intubation , goiter , respiratory distress , airway , thyroidectomy , ventilation (architecture) , airway management , surgery , respiratory failure , anesthesia , intensive care medicine , thyroid , mechanical engineering , engineering
A number of options exist for patients with anticipated difficult intubation on account of a retrosternal goiter compressing on the trachea. The chosen technique(s) to secure the airway in this delicate situation often depends on the location and degree of airway obstruction, available resources/facilities, and an anesthetist's experience and preferences. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman with severe airway obstruction from a retrosternal goiter coming for total thyroidectomy. Airway management started with an awake fiber-optic intubation, proceeded to a tracheostomy and finally to use of a rigid bronchoscope following failure of the earlier techniques to achieve adequate ventilation.