Acute dyspnea following knee joint total endoprosthesis – a diagnostic surprise

Abstract

Acute dyspnea, sometimes dramatic, is most often caused by cardiovascular or respiratory disease. However, although rare, thyroid dysfunction may present a similar clinical picture with equally serious and life-threatening consequences. Therefore, every occurrence of acute dyspnea represents a special medical challenge in diagnosis and treatment.  

We present a case of 81-year-old male admitted to the rehabilitation department five days after a knee joint total endoprosthesis and developed acute dyspnea two days later. An emergency diagnostic was performed and confirmed an airway stenosis through a previously undiagnosed enlarged thyroid gland.

Although in most cases an acute life-threatening postoperative dyspnea indicates a cardiac or pulmonary problem, other diseases must be taken into consideration.