Curriculum · Metabolic and Endocrine and Diabetes Mellitus
Thyroid storm
What it is
Thyroid storm is extreme hyperthyroidism: uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis that requires ICU-level care immediately. It is also listed among the complications of thyroidectomy, where it is rare, and the mechanism there is the same uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis.
Causes and risk
The precipitating factors are infection, surgery, trauma, stress and stopping medications. After thyroidectomy it is precipitated by the surgery itself or by infection, and prevention rests on pre-op optimization and beta-blockers.