- Supportive measures
- Manage patient in the critical care area
- Supply high-flow oxygen
- Monitor: ECG, vital signs, pulse oximetry
- Establish peripheral IV line
- IV fluids:
- dextrose-saline by slow infusion
- Correct volume depletion cautiously to avoid precipitating or worsening heart failure.
- Labs:
- FBC
- Urea, electrolytes, creatinine
- Liver panel
- Thyroid screen for TSH, free T4
- CXR for evidence of heart failure and infection
- ECG: look for ischemia, infarction or dysrhythmia
- Urinalysis by dipstick reagent and culture and sensitivity if sepsis is suspected.
- Correct precipating factors such as sepsis, acute MI
- Administer paracetamol, tepid sponging or other cooling techniques to relieve fever.
- Drug therapy
- Beta-blockers
- Crucial even in the presence of high cardiac output heart failure
- Give ultra-short acting IV Esmolol, test dose 250mg/kg followed by infusion of 50mg/min if available or
- Give IV Propranolol 1mg q 5min until severe tachycardia is controlled. If patient is able to tolerate orally, then Propranolol 60mg PO q 4h or 80mg PO q 8h can be given
- Dexamethasone:
- 2mg IV to provide glucocorticoid support;
- also blocks conversion of free T4 to free T3
- Antithyroid drugs
PTU –Propylthiouracil
- Blocks iodination as well as the conversion of T4 to T3
- Dosage: 400-600mg stat PO or via Ryle’s tube, followed by 200-300 mg q 4h
Lugol’s iodine
- Iodine solution inhibits the release of thyroid hormone ; must give 1-2 hours
- Dosage: 5 drops PO or via Ryle’s tube q 12 h
- If nil by mouth: give IV sodium iodide 1g/500ml saline q 12h
- treat other cardiovascular complications with conventional means; eg Digoxin, diuretics.