Adult Acute Epiglottitis: An Eight - Year Experience in A Philippine Tertiary Government Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To review cases of adult acute epiglottitis in a tertiary government hospital and describe the clinical presentations, diagnostics performed, management and outcomes.
 Methods:
 Study Design: Retrospective Chart Review
 Setting: Tertiary Government Hospital
 Subjects: Records of patients admitted by or referred to the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery with a diagnosis of acute epiglottitis from January 2008 to August 2014 were identified from the department census and charts were retrieved from the Hospital Record Section and evaluated according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Information regarding demographic data, clinical features, laboratory and other diagnostic examinations, medical management, and length of hospital stay were collected.
 Results: There were 20 cases in seven years and eight months. Most were male, 18 to 37-years-old, presenting with dysphagia, odynophagia and a swollen epiglottis on laryngoscopy. Abnormal soft-tissue lateral radiographs of the neck and leukocytosis were seen in 73 % and 83% respectively. Intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids were administered in all cases, and mean hospital stay was 11.2 days.
 Conclusion: Adult acute epiglottitis should be highly suspected in patients presenting with dysphagia, odynophagia, and muffling of the voice even with a normal oropharyngeal examination. History of respiratory infection, co-morbidities, smoking and alcohol intake, concomitant laryngeal pathology and supraglottic structure insults contribute to development of the disease. Laryngoscopy is still the gold standard in diagnosis. Airway protection is mandatory but prophylactic intubation or tracheostomy are not advised. Intravenous antibiotics are necessary and corticosteroids may be of benefit. 
 Keywords: epiglottitis, supraglottitis, epiglottis, adult, Philippines

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