OpenAnesthesia and the APSF: Achieving Safe and Quality Anesthesia Care with Education Innovation

A compressive hematoma is the most common cause of airway obstruction 24 hours after thyroidectomy. Acute hypocalcemia typically manifests 24 to 48 hours postoperatively with laryngeal stridor and airway obstruction. Prior to stridor, the patient may complain of a tingling sensation in the lips and fingers. If recurrent laryngeal nerve damage occurs, it is more likely to be unilateral and present with hoarseness. If both recurrent laryngeal nerves were severed, severe airway obstruction occurs immediately. Hematoma is the most common cause of airway obstruction within 24 hours of a thyroidectomy. The definitive treatment of a hematoma is opening the surgical incision to evacuate the hematoma and relieve the airway obstruction.