A Rare Surgical Emergency in Geriatric Patient: Epiglottic Abscess

Abstract

ABS TRACT Epiglottic abscess is a rare complication of acute epiglottitis that can lead to upper airway obstruction and is fatal if not diagnosed early and treated. Common symptoms include dysphagia, odynophagia, dysphonia, stridor and fever. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy and contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography are the most common methods of diagnosis. In the treatment of this complication, the airway should be secured initially, abscess should be drained then and intravenous antibiotherapy should be administered. In the present study, we discuss our approach to epiglottic abscesses through a geriatric patient who underwent an emergency operation for epiglottic abscess and was treated successfully.