A Clinical Study of 71 Cases of Acute Epiglottitis

Abstract

Acute epiglottitis causes sudden upper airway obstruction that may become lethal, and must be diagnosed and treated quickly and precisely. We review clinical features of 71-cases of acute epiglottitis in 6 years, focusing in cases requiring emergency airway management. Retrospective analysis was done for 1) age and gender, 2) month of onset, 3) symptoms, 4) smoking history, 5) diabetes history, 6) cause and background, 7) first medical institution visit, 8) duration from symptom onset to hospital visit, 9) oropharyngeal findings, 10) laryngendoscopic findings, 11) pharyngeal culture, and 12) deterioration after hospitalization. We found that 2 cases deteriorated in laryngendoscopic findings after hospitalization despite treatment. Even if the first medical findings are mild, it is necessary to respond to patients with the possibility to deterioration in mind. Five cases required emergency airway management-3 with tracheostomy and 2 cases with endotracheal intubation. If symptoms of laryngeal edema, oxygen desaturation, and dyspnea are present, emergency airway management should be prepared soon after hospitalization.

A Clinical Study of Patients with Acute Epiglottitis

“…Acute epiglottitis is considered a childhood disease in Western countries, but it is seen in adults in Japan. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The results of the present study are consistent with those of past reports with regard to the fact that median age was 45 years and most subjects were in their 30s to 60s. It has been reported that the onset of acute epiglottitis is somewhat more common during the summer season, [10][11][12] but it has also been reported that there is no predilection in terms of time.…”

“…It has been reported that the onset of acute epiglottitis is somewhat more common during the summer season, [10][11][12] but it has also been reported that there is no predilection in terms of time. 6,13,14 In the present study, many cases of acute epiglottitis tended to occur from spring to summer. The most common number of days from onset to consultation is said to be 2 to 3 days, 2,3,11,15 and in the present study, similar results (median of 3 days) were noted.…”

“…Epiglottic cysts were observed in 16 of 115 patients (13.9%). In past reports, the frequency was indicated to be 7 to 14%, 2,[4][5][6][7]11,15 and epiglottic cysts appeared to cause acute epiglottitis. It has been reported that epiglottic cysts are correlated with the severity of acute epiglottitis, 17 but it has also been reported that there is no correlation.…”

“…In addition, five of eight cases of airway management had consultations within 2 days of onset. In patients requiring airway management, there are many reports that the number of days from onset to consultation is within 24 hours, 1,5,6,8,15 and it has The white blood cell count and C-reactive protein (CRP) level on admission and on hospital day 4. There was a significant decrease in the white blood cell count and CRP level on hospital day 4 when compared with that upon admission.…”

Acute epiglottitis: a retrospective review of 47 patients in Kuwait

“…Acute epiglottitis is an uncommon and a relatively rare disease that may become serious or even life-threatening because of sudden airway obstruction; hence it must be diagnosed and treated quickly and precisely [1]. The fi rst published description in English of this condition dates back to 1799 when George Washington is believed to have died from acute epiglottitis during an epidemic of infl uenza [2], since then the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of the disease have been well documented in the western and temperate countries.…”