Epiglottic abscess as a complication of acute epiglottitis

Abstract

Objective: An epiglottic abscess is considered a life-threatening medical situation that can cause death by obstruction the upper airways. We describe a 58-year-old man who presented to our hospital with sore throat, dysphagia and dysphonia.

Materials and methods: A fiberoptic laryngoscope (FOL) demonstrated beefy red edematous epiglottis with edema extending from the base of the tongue to the aryepiglottic folds and arytenoids. CT scan showed multiple air bubbles inside the swollen epiglottis, in keeping with the diagnosis of necrotizing epiglottic abscess.

Results: Under local anesthesia we performed puncture of the abscess at the tip of the epiglottis. He was dismissed 5days from his admission to the hospital after an improvement was noticed in his epiglottis.

Conclusion: Treatment consists of airway management if needed under anesthesia and draining of the abscess. An IV antibiotics plus corticosteroids should be administrated the moment a suspicion of epiglottitis is present.