Subtotal Thyroidectomy for Giant Goiters under Local Anesthesia: Experience with 15 Nigerians

Abstract

Thyroid surgery is performed by majority of surgeons using general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. In resource poor countries, the paucity of equipment and Anaesthetists limits such procedure needing endotracheal intubation. We describe our experiences with 15 Nigerians who presented with giant goitres and were operated using local anaesthesia. We concluded that subtotal thyroidectomy under local anaesthesia is safe and cost effective. It should be encouraged in resource poor countries and save the patients from living with the stigmata of goitres when they were not able to pay their ways to centres that use general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation for such procedure.