Myxedema coma after esophagectomy.

Abstract

For most patients with esophageal cancer, esophagectomy is an effective therapy. Perioperative management is critical for clinical outcomes after the operation. Great efforts should be made to avoid postoperative complications. We report myxedema coma, an emergency condition caused by severe hypothyroidism, after a patient underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous levothyroxine. We strongly recommend that physicians test the thyroid hormone levels in patients with risk factors. If myxedema coma occurs, immediate use of intravenous levothyroxine is effective for this lethal complication.