The myth of tracheomalacia and difficult intubation in cases of retrosternal goitre.
Although it is widely believed that management of the airway is difficult in surgery for retrosternal goitre, a review of the literature, revealing management of 1969 patients with retrosternal goitre, provided scant evidence of difficult intubation or post-operative tracheomalacia resulting in tracheal collapse. This was reflected in our own series of 18 thyroidectomies for retrosternal goitre performed at our hospitals.
Bennett
A M D
AM
Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Norwich, UK. a.bennett@doctors.org.uk
Hashmi
S M
SM
Premachandra
D J
DJ
Wright
M M
MM
D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*