Subglottic stenosis due to an unexpected foreign body diagnosed after emergency tracheostomy in a child

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Subglottic stenosis is a recognized complication of endotracheal intubation.
• Severe cases in children are rare and can present as airway emergencies.
• Diagnosis can be challenging, with foreign bodies sometimes overlooked initially.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight a rare cause of severe pediatric subglottic stenosis.
• To emphasize the importance of thorough investigation in difficult airway cases.
• To discuss emergency airway management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Case report of an 8-year-old girl with severe subglottic stenosis.
• Emergency tracheostomy performed under regional anesthesia with spontaneous breathing maintained.
• Initial suspicion of traumatic etiology, later revised upon laryngoscopy revealing a foreign body.

Main Results:

• Successful emergency tracheostomy under regional anesthesia.
• Identification of a foreign body as the cause of severe subglottic stenosis.
• Demonstration of successful airway securement despite initial diagnostic uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• Individualized patient assessment is paramount for managing pediatric subglottic stenosis.
• Foreign body detection requires careful laryngoscopic examination.
• Prompt and appropriate airway management is critical in pediatric emergencies.