Angioneurotic edema of upper airway tissues due to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) usage is a known perioperative complication of this class of medications. Swelling can begin rapidly, and typically involves the tongue and oral cavity. We have recently encountered four cases in which supraglottic edema developed after onset of tongue swelling and progressed despite resolving tongue edema. We present a representative case. This observation suggests that all patients with ACEI-induced angioedema should undergo laryngeal fiberoptic examination and appropriate airway management.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.