NO AIR – A 47-YEAR-OLD MALE WITH COMPLETE AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION SECONDARY TO ACUTE EPIGLOTTITIS: A CASE REPORT
Abstract
Acute epiglottitis is a rare disease in adults that mostly presents in a relatively benign clinical course in which the diagnosis is often delayed or missed. If the clinical diagnosis of epiglottitis is made, the airway is judged to be at risk and intervention should not be delayed by attempts to obtain cultures or radiographs. A team effort with interdepartmental cooperation with skilled assistance is essential to secure a difficult airway.
This is a case report of a 47-year-old chronic alcoholic Filipino male who had a history of odynophagia, sore throat, and fever and presented with dyspnea in the emergency department and subsequently succumbed to cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to complete airway obstruction secondary to acute epiglottitis.
This case demonstrates the importance of having an increased awareness of this disease, especially among adult patients, as the consequence of unrecognized acute epiglottitis can be fatal. The anticipation of difficult airway management in the emergency department is prudent in every case encountered.
Copyright (c) 2023 Maria Irene Lourdes Tonog
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