Challenges in the Management of a Patient with Myxoedema Coma in Ghana: A Case Report

Josephine Akpalu, Yacoba Atiase, Ernest Yorke, Henrietta Fiscian, Cecilia Kootin-Sanwu, Albert Akpalu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Myxoedema coma is a rare life-threatening disease, and it is essential that it is managed appropriately to reduce the associated high mortality. However, in the setting where efficient healthcare delivery is hampered by inadequacies, the management of such cases may pose a significant challenge. We present the case of a middle-aged woman diagnosed with myxoedema coma and severe hyponatremia. The case report highlights some of the challenges that may be encountered during the management of myxoedema coma in similar settings and outlines the management strategies undertaken to overcome them in the absence of national guidelines. It also brings to the fore the need for clinicians to look out for clinical features suggestive of hypothyroidism particularly among high risk individuals for early diagnosis and treatment.

FUNDING: None declared.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)39-42
Number of pages4
JournalGhana Medical Journal
Volume51
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2017

Keywords

  • Ghana
  • challenges
  • management
  • myxoedema coma

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