Unexpected epiglottic oedema and failed intubation following blunt trauma
Abstract
Unexpected epiglottic oedema and failed intubation following blunt trauma A. Pickard and H. Schou * Weston-super-Mare, UK * E-mail: SchouKongstad@swipnet.se Editor—We report a case of failed intubation due to unforeseen epiglottic oedema in a patient with no symptoms or signs of airway obstruction. Reports associating lap-shoulder seatbelts with blunt laryngeal trauma exist, however these patients presented with airway symptoms and prompt diagnosis was made on admission. 1 , 2 Severe oedema without airway symptoms have not previously been reported. A 24-yr-old male driver was involved in a high velocity frontal-impact road traffic accident between two cars. The patient was restrained by a lap-shoulder seatbelt. On initial assessment, the patient was alert and orientated with a Glasgow Coma Score of 15, speaking in full … Full Text of this Article