Severe airway obstruction from goitre during pregnancy relieved by Thyroidectomy at Caesarean Section: A case report

Abstract

A 39yr old woman P5G6 presented to hospital where a diagnosis of airway obstruction secondary to goitre was made. At anaesthetic review, she had severe inspiratory stridor and expiratory wheezing. Adecision was made to proceed to CS urgently under GA and perform a thyroidectomy at the same sitting. Zimbabwe is considered iodine adequate because over 90% of households have access to iodine, but 14.8% have urinary iodine excretion below 100mcg/L, the threshold for iodine inadequacy. In Zimbabwe developing a policy for antenatal management of patients with goitre should always be considered.