Active prophylactic management of respiratory obstruction after standard thyroidectomy for giant goitre in the middle belt region of Nigeria.
Respiratory obstruction is a lethal complication of thyroidectomy for giant goitre. Prophylactic tracheal splintage by retaining the endotracheal tube in situ for 24 h post-operatively and its meticulous management in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a safe and rewarding practice. Over a 7-year period, 33 patients, all women who had standard thyroidectomy for giant goitre were managed accordingly. There was no incidence of post-operative respiratory distress, nor mortality in the series. The average duration of stay in ICU was 2 days for all patients and the average hospital stay was 6 days for 27 of the 33 patients (81.8%). We suggest that judicious post-thyroidectomy management of giant goitre patients in ICU with endotracheal tube in situ for 24 h improves their survival chances.
Obekpa
P O
PO
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Onuminya
J E
JE
Punnoose
V A
VA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*