title: Thyroidectomy in a patient with thyroid storm: report of a case.
abstract: Thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition that is generally considered to be a contradiction to surgical intervention. We herein describe the case of a 37-year-old patient with a history of Graves' disease who was transferred to Tottori University Hospital with thyroid storm. She had been followed by her family doctor since 2006, but she had stopped taking her medication of her own volition in 2010. About ten days prior to her admission at our hospital, she consulted her family doctor with complaints of dyspnea, palpitations and general fatigue. Subsequent thyroid function tests showed TSH < 0.01 μU/ml, FT3 25.0 pg/ml and FT4 8.0 ng/dl. She also had acute heart failure, atrial fibrillation and hepatic failure. A diagnosis of thyroid storm was made and she was transferred to our hospital. She received steroids, beta blockade, potassium iodide, and plasma exchange, but her hepatic failure did not resolve and her clinical condition deteriorated. The decision was made to proceed with thyroidectomy. Postoperatively, her hepatic function normalized. Thus, thyroidectomy is a potential therapeutic choice for cases of thyroid storm refractory to medical management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tottori Prefectural Kousei Hospital, 150 Higashisyouwa-machi, Kurayoshi, Tottori, 682-0804, Japan, uchidana@pref.tottori.jp.
authors.forename: Naotaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Kiyosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011193:Potassium Iodide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013958:Thyroid Crisis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D011193:Potassium Iodide; D004077:Digoxin; C028994:betamethasone sodium phosphate; D001623:Betamethasone