Airway Management in a Patient with Retrosternal Goiter: A Context-Sensitive Airway Management Strategy

Retrosternal extension of the goiter can cause compression of the trachea, esophagus and major blood vessels. Airway management is indeed a challenge in patients with airway obstructive signs and symptoms and it is based on the severity of the patient’s clinical symptoms, availability of airway equipments, familiarity and expertise. We encountered a patient with retrosternal goiter with tracheal compression, presented for surgery required pediatric Fiber-Optic Bronchoscope (FOB) for securing the airway. A 45 year female patient presented with a swelling in front of the neck for 6 months. Recently, she developed intermittent stridor which was aggravated by lying supine. In computed tomography, there was a retrosternal extension of thyroid gland into superior mediastinum causing tracheal compression and narrowing (80%). Awake fiber-optic intubation with paediatric FOB was used to secure the airway before induction of anaesthesia. Paediatric FOB can be useful to secure airway in patients with tracheal compression and narrowing.