Cricoid pressure: beware the patient with a goitre.
A case of acute thyroid swelling is reported following intubation of a young woman with a pre-existing small goitre. The thyroid enlargement then distorted the airway, necessitating an emergency thyroidectomy. The application of cricoid pressure was believed to have caused the intrathyroidal bleeding and the complications of cricoid pressure are reviewed.
Fairweather
N L
NL
Department of Anaesthesia, Mater Hospitals, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld 4101.
D000328:Adult; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000473:pathology*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011312:Pressure; D013965:Thyroidectomy