Abstract
A review of 97 patients with acute epiglottitis: 83, a retrospective study and 14, a prospective experience of the authors is presented to clarify some of the common misconceptions regarding the presentation, clinical course, and management of this disorder. It is a relatively rare, life threatening infection of infants and preschool children, but also occurs in adults. It is frequently referred to as “Hemophilus influenzae croup epiglottitis” which is misleading as croup is usually not present in these patients; and, though H. influenzae is the most common causative organism, other pathogens have been implicated. The course of acute epiglottitis is radically different from that of the more common viral subglottic croup syndromes in that these patients often have rapidly progressive and frequently abrupt, complete airway obstruction. An assured airway is mandatory in their management. Since nasotracheal intubation should not be undertaken without provisions for immediate surgical intervention, acute epiglottitis should always be considered an acute surgical emergency.
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Bass, J., Steele, R. & Wiebe, R. ACUTE EPIGLOTTITIS - AN ACUTE SURGICAL EMERGENCY. Pediatr Res 8, 421 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00489
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00489