Emergency management of a patient with severe airway obstruction resulting from poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A case report.

We present a case of a life-threatening almost complete airway obstruction resulting from poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma in a 48-year-old male. Airway obstruction may lead to unexpected mortality by suffocation and patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma usually have a fast deterioration and fatal outcome. In the case presented, we describe a safe and effective treatment strategy. Assisted by femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass oxygenation, a tracheal stent was implanted successfully. Following surgery there were no complications, and chemoradiotherapy resulted in the relief of obstructing symptoms and improved the quality of life of the patient. This case indicates that femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass provides adequate oxygen support to undergo further management and that tracheal stent implant is an effective emergent measure to relieve severe airway obstruction in patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma.