Management of a female patient with thyroid storm accompanied by acute airway obstruction: A case report

Wang,Lintao; Ming,Kunxiu; Yan,Zhiyuan; Huang,Jinning; Wang,Yonghui

doi:10.3892/etm.2025.12839

April-2025 Volume 29 Issue 4

Full Size Image

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease.

International Journal of Oncology

International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment.

Molecular Medicine Reports

Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery.

Oncology Reports

Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine.

Oncology Letters

Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology.

Biomedical Reports

Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology.

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis.

World Academy of Sciences Journal

Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology.

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition.

International Journal of Epigenetics

Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease.

Medicine International

An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine.

April-2025 Volume 29 Issue 4

Full Size Image

Case Report Open Access

Management of a female patient with thyroid storm accompanied by acute airway obstruction: A case report

Authors:
- Lintao Wang
- Kunxiu Ming
- Zhiyuan Yan
- Jinning Huang
- Yonghui Wang
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department of Clinical Medicine, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261041, P.R. China, Department of Central Sterile Supply, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 261041, P.R. China, Department of Neurology, Anqiu People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 261041, P.R. China, Department of Thyroid Surgery, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 261041, P.R. China

Copyright: © Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
Article Number: 89
|
Published online on: March 4, 2025

https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2025.12839
Expand metrics +

Abstract

Thyroid storm (TS) is a life‑threatening exacerbation of the hyperthyroid state. Acute airway obstruction is a life‑threatening disease that requires emergency intervention. The present report describes a case of concomitant TS (Burch‑Wartofsky Point Scale score, 70 points; thyroid‑stimulating hormone, <0.01 µIU/ml; free triiodothyronine, 30.8 pmol/l; and free thyroxine, 106.7 pmol/l) and acute airway obstruction in a 63‑year‑old female patient. Although treating the TS was viewed as the primary medical concern, the airway obstruction induced by the large thyroid also needed to be solved urgently. In the present case, thyroidectomy was immediately performed, following which the TS was controlled by medical treatment (propylthiouracil, sodium iodide, hydrocortisone and esmolol). After the surgery, the airway obstruction and TS were alleviated, before the patient was eventually discharged from the hospital 14 days after surgery. At 1 month after discharge from the hospital, the patient had normal thyroid function with oral intake of levothyroxine tablet and did not complain of dyspnoea. The present case report aims to emphasize the need for the heightened awareness of patients with TS and trachea stenosis, and underscore the importance of solving the airway obstruction accompanying the TS.

View Figures

View References

1	Lahey FH: Apathetic thyroidism. Ann Surg. 93:1026–1030. 1931.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
2	Tsakiridis I, Giouleka S, Kourtis A, Mamopoulos A, Athanasiadis A and Dagklis T: Thyroid disease in pregnancy: A descriptive review of guidelines. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 77:45–62. 2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
3	Wiersinga WM, Poppe KG and Effraimidis G: Hyperthyroidism: Aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management, complications, and prognosis. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 11:282–298. 2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
4	Galindo RJ, Hurtado CR, Pasquel FJ, García Tome R, Peng L and Umpierrez GE: National trends in incidence, mortality, and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized for thyrotoxicosis with and without thyroid storm in the United States, 2004-2013. Thyroid. 29:36–43. 2019.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
5	Akamizu T, Satoh T, Isozaki O, Suzuki A, Wakino S, Iburi T, Tsuboi K, Monden T, Kouki T, Otani H, et al: Diagnostic criteria, clinical features, and incidence of thyroid storm based on nationwide surveys. Thyroid. 22:661–679. 2012.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
6	Ono Y, Ono S, Yasunaga H, Matsui H, Fushimi K and Tanaka Y: Factors associated with mortality of thyroid storm: Analysis using a National inpatient database in Japan. Medicine (Baltimore). 95(e2848)2016.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
7	Farooqi S, Raj S, Koyfman A and Long B: High risk and low prevalence diseases: Thyroid storm. Am J Emerg Med. 69:127–135. 2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
8	Eskander A, de Almeida JR and Irish JC: Acute upper airway obstruction. N Engl J Med. 381:1940–1949. 2019.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
9	Yoyo M: Medicine and society in martinique. Interaction between society and medical practice. Union Med Can. 109 (Suppl):S23–S27. 1980.PubMed/NCBI(In French).
10	Yildirim E: Principles of urgent management of acute airway obstruction. Thorac Surg Clin. 28:415–428. 2018.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
11	Chiha M, Samarasinghe S and Kabaker AS: Thyroid storm: An updated review. J Intensive Care Med. 30:131–140. 2015.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
12	De Almeida R, McCalmon S and Cabandugama PK: Clinical review and update on the management of thyroid storm. Mo Med. 119:366–371. 2022.PubMed/NCBI
13	Burch HB and Wartofsky L: Life-threatening thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid storm. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 22:263–277. 1993.PubMed/NCBI
14	Satoh T, Isozaki O, Suzuki A, Wakino S, Iburi T, Tsuboi K, Kanamoto N, Otani H, Furukawa Y, Teramukai S and Akamizu T: 2016 Guidelines for the management of thyroid storm from The Japan Thyroid Association and Japan Endocrine Society (First edition). Endocr J. 63:1025–1064. 2016.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
15	Matsushita A, Hosokawa S, Mochizuki D, Okamura J, Funai K and Mineta H: Emergent thyroidectomy with sternotomy due to acute respiratory failure with severe thyroid storm. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 100:e1–e3. 2018.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Management of a female patient with thyroid storm accompanied by acute airway obstruction: A case report

This article is mentioned in:

Abstract

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Related Articles