Page 68 - Portuguese Journal - SPORL - Vol 61. Nº2

Table 3
Summary table of the results of MANOVA for the relationship between the independent variables and
outcomes defined in this study (On the right are the p-values for each outcome that resulted from the
between-subject effects analysis)

Variable Value p-value Between-subject-effects p-value
Surgical drainage 0.723
Epiglottic abscess 0.274
Duration of 26
symptoms 2.8x10 <0.001 Cervical abscess 1.000
Tracheotomy 1.000
AAM <0.001

Surgical drainage 0.489
Epiglottic abscess 0.65
MEWS score 1.847x10 26 <0.001 Cervical abscess 0.792
Tracheotomy 0.792
AAM <0.001
Surgical drainage 0.262
Epiglottic abscess 0.394
Comorbidities 3.746x10 25 <0.001 Cervical abscess 0.443
Tracheotomy 0.443
AAM <0.001

Surgical drainage 0.529
Epiglottic abscess 0.082
Symptoms 1.224x10 26 <0.001 Cervical abscess 0.964
Tracheotomy 0.964
AAM <0.001

of airway loss, it continues to be frequently for the diagnosis of epiglottitis . In this study,
6
underdiagnosed, probably because of the visualization of the larynx to confirm the
non-specific clinical presentation. In this diagnosis of epiglottitis was performed by
study, most patients had odynophagia, endoscopy, which is in line with the literature .
14
dysphagia, and fever as the main symptoms, The presence of a purulent exudate in the
similar to the symptoms reported in other supraglottic structures was associated with
studies, making it challenging to make a the occurrence of complications and need for
timely diagnosis 9,12 . Regarding the analytical prolonged hospitalization.
parameters on admission, the presence of The mean duration of hospital stay was seven
neutrophilia was positively correlated with the days, which is longer than that reported in
occurrence of complications, more specifically the literature by Tapiovaara et al. . Other
15
with the need for AAM, and elevated CRP. authors have reported that the sensitivity of
This correlation has been reported by other neck X-ray (lateral) was 81.0–89.4%, and an
authors , which confirms the importance of X-ray without evidence of epiglottitis cannot
13
laboratory tests for diagnosis and that these exclude this diagnosis 12, 16 . According to the
parameters may be considered markers of literature , CT is the method indicated to
17
disease severity. Direct visualization using identify the complications associated with
flexible laryngoscopy is the gold-standard epiglottitis, such as epiglottic or cervical

210 Portuguese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery