Retrosternal goitre: Anaesthetic implications and management

Large retrosternal goitre is a challenge to the anaesthesiologist and the surgeon. We describe the successful anaesthetic management of a 44 year old male patient with extensive retrosternal goitre with severe tracheal compression, operated for total thyroidectomy under general anaesthesia by combined cervical approach and sternotomy. A multidisciplinary team approach with surgical colleagues allowed successful management of the patient.