Page 63 - Portuguese Journal - SPORL - Vol 61. Nº2

Acute epiglottitis in adults: Retrospective

study in a tertiary hospital

Review Article

Authors Abstract

Epiglottitis is an acute inflammatory process of the
Rita Peça supraglottic region, potentially fatal due to the risk of
Médica Interna do Internato de Formação Específica airway obstruction.
em Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário We performed a retrospective study of adults
Lisboa Norte, Portugal admitted with epiglottitis in a tertiary hospital,
between 2017 and 2022, and the aim of the study
Mariana Caetano
Médica Interna do Internato de Formação Específica is to characterize the population and identify risk
em Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário factors associated with complications.
Lisboa Norte, Portugal Outcomes were defined as: airway intervention
(AI); epiglottic and/or deep neck abscess; need for
Ana Rita Santos surgical drainage.
Assistente Hospitalar Graduada de Otorrinolaringologia MEWS Score was used to evaluate the clinical
do Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Portugal baseline of the patients on admission. Sample size
was 51 adults with 17 AI, 25 abscesses and 7 surgical
Pedro Correia-Rodrigues drainages identified.
Assistente Hospitalar de Otorrinolaringologia do Centro Dyspnea was the only symptom with a positive
Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Portugal
correlation with all outcomes (p<0.05). The duration
Leonel Luís of symptoms, MEWS score and comorbidities are
Diretor do Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia do Centro possible predictors of airway intervention (p<0.001),
Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Portugal which should raise a higher degree of suspicion for
complications.
Keywords: epiglottitis; adult; epiglottic abscess;
tracheostomy

Introduction
Epiglottitis is an acute inflammatory
condition of the supraglottic region. It is
potentially fatal because of the imminent
risk of airway obstruction . Although it is
1,2
traditionally considered a pediatric condition,
its prevalence in this age group has been
decreasing due to large-scale vaccination
against type B Haemophilus influenza (HiB),
and it is occurring increasingly in adults.
Its incidence is 1–4/100,000, the associated
mortality rate is 1–20%, and it is less indolent
Correspondence:
2-4
Rita Costa Peça in those aged 18 years and over . Statistically,
Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte men aged 42–48 years are the most affected .
5
Avenida Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa
E-mail: ritacostapeca@icloud.com The symptoms of epiglottitis in adults include
odynophagia, dysphonia, dyspnea, and
dysphagia . Fever is not common and may
5
Article received on April 12, 2023.
5
Accepted for publication on May 2, 2023. be absent in 50% of the cases . Diagnosis of
Volume 61 . Nº2 . June 2023 205