Upper airway obstruction due to inoperable intrathoracic goitre treated by tracheal endoprosthesis.

Abstract

Thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice in patients with thyroid enlargement complicated by compression or displacement of the trachea because of the risk of complete airway obstruction due to sudden enlargement of the goitre by, for example, haemorrhage. In patients who are medically inoperable an endoscopically inserted tracheal endoprosthesis may provide longstanding airway patency, as reported here.