Thyroid storm refers to the life threatening acute presentation of thyroid hormone excess of any cause, typified by pyrexia, tachycardia, neurological disturbance, gastrointestinal upset and heart failure.
Thyroid storm usually occurs in people with long standing thyrotoxicosis.
If the patient is not known already to have thyroid disease, ask about heat intolerance, tremor, palpitations, weight loss, diarrhoea and other typical features if thyrotoxicosis.
Storm may be precipitated by withdrawal of anti-thyroid drugs.
Iodinated contrast medium or indeed radioactive iodine may precipitate storm.
Surgery and anaesthesia are recognised triggers for thyroid storms.
Storm may be precipitated by any major insult e.g. myocardial infarction, stroke, severe infection, etc.
Tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and heart failure may all occur as part of thyroid storm and are necessary to score this condition.
Myocardial infarction is also a recognised trigger for thyroid storm.
Pyrexia is a cardinal feature of thyroid storm and its documentation is necessary to score this condition.
Abdominal pain, abnormal liver function and jaundice may all occur as part of thyroid storm and are necessary to score this condition.
CNS disturbance isn't key feature of thyroid storm and should be documented to help score this condition.