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Traumatic Macroglossia in a Patient With Rett Syndrome
Anass Dweik1, Yasir Al-Hilli1, Yousuf Tawfeeq1
1Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, USA.
Cureus
|July 27, 2022
Summary
Traumatic macroglossia, a rare condition, caused severe tongue swelling in a Rett syndrome patient after intubation attempts. The patient
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Study
- Emergency Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Traumatic macroglossia is a rare but serious condition causing tongue swelling and potential airway obstruction.
- Rett syndrome patients may have unique challenges in airway management due to neurological factors.
Observation:
- A 20-year-old female with Rett syndrome developed severe traumatic macroglossia after multiple intubation attempts due to benzodiazepine overdose.
- Uncontrolled bruxism exacerbated the tongue swelling, complicating management.
- The patient's condition was refractory to conservative treatments like bite blocks, paralytics, and steroids.
Findings:
- This case highlights a unique presentation of traumatic macroglossia in a patient with Rett syndrome.
- Conservative medical management was insufficient, and a planned surgical intervention was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
- Transfer to a tertiary care center was not feasible, underscoring challenges in managing rare emergencies during widespread health crises.
Implications:
- This case emphasizes the need for careful airway management in patients with underlying neurological conditions like Rett syndrome.
- It highlights the limitations of conservative therapy in severe traumatic macroglossia and the challenges posed by external factors like pandemics.
- Further research into tailored management strategies for traumatic macroglossia in complex patient populations is warranted.
