To investigate the clinical features of cases with emergency thyroid surgery.

Nineteen cases treated with emergency thyroid surgery from May 2014 to May 2019 were analysed retrospectively, including 9 males and 10 females, aged from 24-79 years old. Among them, 6 cases had nodular goitres and 13 cases had thyroid malignancies. One case underwent tracheal stenting before operation. Emergency thyroid surgery was due to severe dyspnea in all cases. Treatment outcomes and prognoses of patients were evaluated.

All the 19 patients underwent general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. One patient underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) and two patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass. Six cases of nodular goitres underwent proximal thyroidectomy. Eight cases of malignant tumors underwent total thyroidectomy, six cases with invading the trachea underwent tracheal end-end anastomosis after partial tracheal resection, one case underwent tumor resection with sternal sternum approach, cervical and mediastinal lymph node dissection, total laryngectomy and tracheal low ostomy. Two cases with extensive involvement of malignant tumors were given a definite diagnosis and tracheostomy. Of three cases with malignant lymphoma, one underwent total thyroidectomy, and two were only given a definite diagnosis and tracheostomy. No complications such as hemorrhage, recurrent laryngeal nerve or parathyroid injury occurred after operation in all patients. With followed up for 6-50 months, except 2 cases died due to tumor progression, the rest were alive.

Patients with obvious dyspnea caused by thyroid tumors have a high mortality rate and should be treated actively. Emergency surgery not only relieves respiratory obstruction and saves the lives of patients, but some patients can get a radical cure as well.

Thyroid diseases; Surgical procedures, operative; Emergency treatment