Epiglottitis is a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract that can be rapidly progressive and life-threatening. Though predominantly seen in unvaccinated children, there seems to be a shift with the incidence of adult cases rising following the Haemophilus Influenza B (HiB) vaccine. There are several reports of epiglottitis manifesting as an abscess, but few cases report on the formation of an emphysematous abscess. Additionally, little is known on the bacterial etiology of such infections. Here, we present a case of a patient found to have acute emphysematous epiglottis managed with fiberoptic intubation, drainage, and culture of the abscess. Laryngoscope, 2023.
Keywords: awake fiberoptic intubation; emphysematous; epiglottitis; rigid endoscopy; supraglottitis.
© 2023 The Authors. The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.