Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
9
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-10-20
pubmed:abstractText
Epiglottitis is an acute disease, which was predominantly caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b in the pre-vaccination era. In the vaccination era, with waning vigilance, adults remain at risk for acute epiglottitis according to recent Dutch incidence rates. There is more diversity in the cause of epiglottitis in adults. We describe three patients who presented to the emergency ward of a regional teaching hospital with severe epiglottitis. All three patients had stridor at presentation indicating a compromised airway. Emergency intubation was attempted, but two patients required a tracheotomy and one patient died. Patients received fibreoptic nasal intubation, systemic dexamethasone and antibiotics. Stridor is an important acute sign of upper airway obstruction, which requires vigilance for epiglottitis, regardless of the patient's age. Fibreoptic nasal intubation should preferentially be attempted with the possibility of immediate surgical airway on hand. Timely diagnosis and treatment usually results in a complete recovery. In adults, severe acute epiglottitis and stridor can justify early intubation.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0300-2977
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
66
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
373-7
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
Epiglottitis in the adult patient.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Case Reports