Abstract
We experienced a case of acute epiglottitis who required a needle cannulation of the cricothyroid membrane due to the development of a deep cervical abscess. We diagnosed the acute epiglottitis using a larynx fiber. He had no symptoms except for a sore throat and a slight fever. However, he demonstrated an airway obstrection three hours after coming to the hospital. We performed needle cannulation of the cricothyroid membrane and he could thus thereafter successfully breathe a little. Next, he underwent a tracheotomy. We administered antibiotics to him intravenously, but a cervical abscess became obvious on the third day of hospitalization. The rejection pus from the incision outside the cervix area was aspirated and the patient was able to leave the hospital on the 39th day of hospitalization. Cases with acute epiglotittis associated with a cervical abscess have sometimes been reported to exist. The risk factors for developing acute epiglottitis have been reported to be smoking, diabetic mellitus, aging, a rapidly worsening condition, tachycardia, a WBS elevation and an extension of larynx imflammation. It is necessary to examine the airway management positively in cases who have these risk factors.
