Acute epiglottitis in adults: Retrospective study in a tertiary hospital

Epiglottitis is an acute inflammatory process of the supraglottic region, potentially fatal due to the risk of airway obstruction. We performed a retrospective study of adults admitted with epiglottitis in a tertiary hospital, between 2017 and 2022, and the aim of the study is to characterize th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rita Peça, Mariana Caetano, Ana Rita Santos, Pedro Correia-Rodrigues, Leonel Luís
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Portuguese Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 2023-08-01
Series:Revista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journalsporl.com/index.php/sporl/article/view/2024
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Epiglottitis is an acute inflammatory process of the supraglottic region, potentially fatal due to the risk of airway obstruction. We performed a retrospective study of adults admitted with epiglottitis in a tertiary hospital, between 2017 and 2022, and the aim of the study is to characterize the population and identify risk factors associated with complications. Outcomes were defined as: airway intervention (AI); epiglottic and/or deep neck abscess; need for surgical drainage. MEWS Score was used to evaluate the clinical baseline of the patients on admission. Sample size was 51 adults with 17 AI, 25 abscesses and 7 surgical drainages identified. Dyspnea was the only symptom with a positive correlation with all outcomes (p<0.05). The duration of symptoms, MEWS score and comorbidities are possible predictors of airway intervention (p<0.001), which should raise a higher degree of suspicion for complications.
ISSN:2184-6499