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A comparison of endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy in the management of acute epiglottitis in children in the tropics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Olujimi Odetoyinbo
Olujimi Odetoyinbo*
Affiliation:
Ile-Ife, Nigeria
*
O. Odetoyinbo, F.R.C.S., Department of Surgery, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
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Abstract

In children, acute epiglottitis is rapidly fatal due to airway obstruction by swollen supraglottic structures, but the oedema is short-lived. Therefore, in many centres short-term endotracheal intubation has replaced tracheostomy as the method of choice for relieving the obstruction.

We have tried both methods in 15 children over a period of three years under conditions of limited material and human resources. Tracheostomy was found to be safer. It was concluded that it is better to have a live healthy child with a small scar in the neck than a dead child without a scar.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 100 , Issue 11 , November 1986 , pp. 1273 - 1278
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1986

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