AIRWAY EMERGENCIES IN ENT: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL
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Keywords
ENT, airway emergency, cut throat, retropharyngeal abscess, airway foreign body
Abstract
Background: Airway emergencies are common in ENT practice. Given the urgent nature of airway emergencies, the knowledge of the prevalence of these emergencies helps in prompt and proper management of these cases to reduce the high rate of mortality and morbidity associated with them.
Method and methodology: A retrospective analysis of all patients who presented with airway emergencies to the ENT department of Tertiary Care Hospital of Sikkim as well as to the Emergency department from August 2014 to August 2020 was done, with a total duration of 6 years. The case files of the patient ward records and the operating theatre records were the source of the data. The data collected were analysed for age, sex, presentation, diagnosis, management and outcome.
Results: Out of 35 patients who presented with airway emergencies, 32 patients fitting the inclusion criteria were studied, with the male-female ratio being 1:1.1. The age group ranged from 9 months to 80 years. Acute infections, which included retropharyngeal abscess, acute epiglottitis and peritonsillar abscess were the most common presentation (34.4%), traumatic neck injuries were the next most common presentation (31.25%), closely followed by laryngeal malignancies in the stridor (25%); and children with foreign body bronchus (9.3%). There were 2 cases of mortality recorded.
Conclusion: Airway emergencies are common in ENT practice. Patients may present with varied pathologies in any age group, and their management requires multidisciplinary and holistic approaches. Quick thinking, prompt decision, and immediate management helps decrease the high rate of mortality and morbidity associated with it.
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Dr. C. S. Rai
Principal Chief Consultant, ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Department STNM Hospital, Gangtok 737101, Contact: 9474058767
Dr. Sachika Rai
Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon, ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Department STNM
Hospital, Gangtok 737101, Contact: 9775842088
Dr. Tenzing Jigme Bhutia
Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon, ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Department STNM Hospital, Gangtok 737101, Contact: 7073789966