Pediatric Graves’ Disease: Challenges Associated With Thyroidectomy and Perioperative Management in a Three-Year-Old Child

Graves' disease is a rare cause of hyperthyroidism in children, and it poses specific problems in diagnosis and surgery. We report a three-year-old female child who had Graves' disease with exophthalmos, for which she underwent a total thyroidectomy. On the preoperative assessment, the patient had tachycardia, hypertension, and severe bilateral proptosis. Managing the airway was challenging due to a shift in the trachea and possible tracheomalacia. Endocrine stabilization, protection for the eyes during surgery, and close observation for thyroid storms and neck hematoma were some strategies employed during the perioperative period. This case highlights the importance of tailored, multidisciplinary approaches to optimize outcomes in pediatric thyroidectomy.