Surgical considerations for treatment of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis.

PURPOSE: We present our experience with surgical management of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative considerations.

METHODS

Retrospective review of the medical records and the histological slides and a Medline search of amiodarone and thyroid gland.

CONCLUSIONS

Amiodarone is a drug used to treat potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmia. One of the known side effects is thyroid dysfunction. In patients who cannot safely discontinue amiodarone or when medical therapy is ineffective in controlling thyrotoxicosis, thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice.