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BMJ Case Reports 2009; doi:10.1136/bcr.09.2008.0938
  • Novel treatment (new drug/intervention; established drug/procedure in new situation)

Immediate post-parathyroidectomy stridor resolved with intravenous calcium

  1. Simon Adams1,
  2. Alexander Harold2,
  3. William Bremner2,
  4. Amir Bhatti2
  1. 1
    University Hospital of North Durham, Department of General Surgery, North Road, Durham DH1 5TW, UK
  2. 2
    University Hospital of North Durham, North Road, Durham, DH1 5TW, UK
  1. Simon Adams, rpbgt{at}hotmail.com
  • Published 23 April 2009

Summary

A 73-year-old woman underwent an uncomplicated focused parathyroidectomy for an adenoma. Immediately after extubation she developed respiratory distress and her airway became compromised. No obvious cause could be found for the stridor and no response was obtained from nebulised adrenaline (norepinephrine). An intravenous bolus of calcium provided immediate but temporary relief. Lasting relief was obtained following the administration of an intravenous calcium infusion. Serology later confirmed a small decrease in calcium concentrations but at the time of the respiratory compromise the values were still within normal range.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none.

  • Patient consent: Patient/guardian consent was obtained for publication

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