Myxedema Coma – A Cause for Delayed Recovery From Anaesthesia

Abstract

Delayed recovery from anaesthesia poses a challenge to the anaesthesiologists. We report a case of 45-year-old lady, a known diabetic on oral hypoglycaemics posted for buttress plating for fracture tibia. On patient's request general anaesthesia was administered. She was haemodynamically stable throughout the procedure. At the end of the procedure, patient was apnoeic and unresponsive. She was investigated thoroughly and a diagnosis of severe hypothyroidism was made with low free T4 and T3 and high TSH levels. The patient was successfully resuscitated after treating with oral T4, gradual rewarming, and inotropic support.