Thyroid emergencies

Abstract

Thyroid gland plays a pivotal role in keeping biochemical harmony and maintaining appropriate functioning of vital organs. Therefore any abnormality in thyroid hormone regulation, can lead to wide ranging detrimental effects. This chapter is assigned for identifying and managing thyroid conditions, which require emergent or urgent interventions. It’s not only the biochemical status of the patient which determines this, but also the clinical presentation can make it urgent vs emergent. This is discussed in condition such as Thyroid storm and myxedema coma. Also, thyroid hormone abnormalities during pregnancy, ICU setting, involving vital organ (CNS, cardiovascular) or related to medicine use (lithium/amiodarone) may pose certain acute management challenges and hence discussed in this chapter.