A Case of a Patient with Medical-Refractory Thyroid Storm Treated Successfully by Surgical Resection

Abstract

Thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition caused by elevated thyroid hormone levels. While multidrug treatments, encompassing antithyroid agents, inorganic iodine, and corticosteroids, are typically employed, they may be ineffective in certain cases. We present the case of a 41-year-old woman whose thyroid storm did not respond to standard medical treatments or therapeutic plasma pheresis, which led to a deterioration in her condition. Ultimately, an emergency total thyroidectomy was performed with no postoperative complications, such as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or bleeding. This case underscores the potential efficacy of emergency thyroidectomy for the management of refractory thyroid storm.