Emergency management of acute epiglottitis

Epiglottitis, while primarily a disease of childhood, does occur in adults of all ages, often with fatal results. Any emergency physician or family physician should be aware of and able to manage this condition. The disease consists of both local and systemic infection. The causative organism is usually H. influenza - type B, but other organisms have often been implicated. The disease is insidious in nature and may rapidly become fatal. Airway obstruction is the major complication. An otolaryngologist should be called in consultation as soon as the disease is suspected. Tracheostomy is often necessary, and a technique of emergency tracheostomy is described.