The epiglottis is the toilet seat of the airway. That’s a useful function. But what if becomes so swollen and inflamed that it leads to airway obstruction and respiratory failure. That’s bad. That’s also what epiglottitis is. You can also call it supraglottitis. Either way you need to recognize this potentially life threatening malady and secure a definitive airway in the sickest patients ASAP.

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Epiglottitis – PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast – Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd – April 12. 2023

Penetrating Neck Injuries – PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast

Penetrating neck injuries in children are rare—but when they happen, the stakes are high. In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast, we explore the clinical pearls behind “no-zone” management, how to distinguish hard and soft signs, when to image versus operate, and why airway always comes first. Get ready for a focused, […]
  1. Penetrating Neck Injuries
  2. Advanced Imaging of Children in the ED: Ultrasound, CT, and MRI
  3. Parvovirus B19 (Fifth Disease)
  4. The Unvaccinated Child with Fever
  5. Mycoplasma pneumoniae

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References

Rafei K, Lichenstein R. Airway infectious disease emergencies. Pediatr Clin North Am 2006; 53:215.

Sobol SE, Zapata S. Epiglottitis and croup. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2008; 41:551.

Richards AM. Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2016 Feb;34(1):77-96. PMID: 26614243.

Faden H. The dramatic change in the epidemiology of pediatric epiglottitis. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2006 Jun;22(6):443-4. PMID: 16801849