Abstract
Acute epiglottitis is a condition requiring immediate medical attention, as it can potentially cause airway obstruction, and, in emergency situations, it needs to be determined whether urgent airway management should be performed. However, indication criteria for airway management have yet to been established. To clarify the clinical picture of acute epiglottitis when it requires airway management, we conducted a retrospective observation study on patients admitted to our hospital with acute epiglottitis. Among the 62 cases investigated, airway management was performed in 10 cases (16.1%), of which six cases (9.7%) underwent surgical airway management through emergency outpatient care within 48 hours from the onset of symptoms. Univariable analysis showed significant differences between the airway group and non-airway group in seven items, including the histories of smoking, throat infection, and diabetes. Multiple logistic regression analysis found three factors that influence airway management, which were: history of smoking, difficulty in speaking, and after-hours visits. The practice of acute epiglottitis, it is necessary management system that evaluates the airway emergency risk and enables airway management quickly. In this study, history of smoking, difficulty in speaking, and after-hours visits are related factors of airway management.
