[Otorhinolaryngologic emergencies in practice]

In practice, the most serious emergency cases may result from shortness of breath and bleeding. Some typical diseases such as subglottal laryngitis in small children and the edema of the larynx entrance are described in greater detail and emergency measures are discussed. Special attention is drawn to the aspiration of foreign bodies and the complications connected with the desensitization of allergy patients. The dominating role of cortisone, the provision of drugs for shock treatment, and possible emergency steps are discussed. A further subject is bleeding disorders in the field of otolaryngology; above all the treatment of epistaxis is discussed in greater detail. Reference is made to the various local emergency measures which in practice may become inevitable. In this context the limits of therapy outside the hospital are listed.