2024 Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 20-26
A 85-year-old man with a history of a thyroid tumor was brought to our hospital after falling from a height. On arrival, he had inspiratory stridor and neck swelling, so we judged the presence of an airway emergency and performed tracheal intubation. Based on imaging findings and the medical history, we diagnosed him with thyroid tumor rupture. Due to cervical hematoma expansion and airway narrowing, we judged that surgery was indicated, and performed hematoma removal, left lobe thyroidectomy, and tracheotomy. He was weaned from mechanical ventilation on the second hospital day, and discharged independently on the 28th hospital day. Traumatic thyroid injury caused by blunt cervical injury is rare, but it can be fatal. Surgery can be performed to remove a hematoma as well as for hemostasis, but thyroidectomy may be required for bleeding from a tumor. If airway stenosis persists after surgery, tracheotomy can be performed for early weaning from ventilation and rehabilitation.
