Laryngeal edema – swelling of the mucous and submucosal membranes of the larynx due to soaking them with exudate or transudate. It occurs as one of the manifestations of an inflammatory or non-inflammatory lesion of the larynx and is traditionally localized in places of accumulation of loose submucosal tissue of the larynx (subglottic space, vestibular folds, aryepiglottic folds, surface of the epiglottis from the side of the tongue). May be limited or diffuse.
The reasons
Trauma (mechanical, thermal, chemical) of the mucous membrane of the pharynx or larynx, allergies, acute infectious diseases, diseases of the cardiovascular system and kidneys, collateral edema with pathological changes in the cervical lymph nodes, thyroid gland, with inflammatory processes in the pharynx (peritonsillar, parapharyngeal abscess, etc.); phlegmon of the neck with acute, especially phlegmonous laryngitis, with neoplasms of the larynx.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the location and severity of the edema. They can consist only of a feeling of awkwardness, moderate pain in the throat when swallowing, or be more serious up to a sharp difficulty in breathing. At the same time, significant stenosis of the lumen of the larynx does not often occur.
Diagnostics
With laryngoscopy, a limited or diffuse, intense gelatinous tumor-like formation of a pale pink color is visible. The contours of the anatomical details of the larynx in the area of edema disappear.
Treatment
The patient is hospitalized, since even a slight edema can increase very quickly and lead to severe stenosis of the larynx. Most likely, the causes of edema will need to be eliminated. The patient is allowed to swallow pieces of ice. put an ice pack on the neck, prescribe distraction therapy (mustard plasters, cups, hot foot baths), oxygen inhalation, antibiotic aerosol inhalations, intramuscular antibiotics, sulfonamides, dehydration therapy (intravenous infusions of 20 ml of 40% glucose solution), in / in the introduction of 10 ml of a 10% solution of calcium chloride, 1 ml of a 5% solution of ascorbic acid. Also shown are intranasal novocaine blockade, diuretics, antihistamine products orally, intramuscularly (pipolphen, suprastin, etc.), inhalation of corticosteroid aerosols.
In severe cases, 1-2 ml of hydrocortisone (25-50 mg) is injected intramuscularly or 1-2 ml of an aqueous solution of prednisolone is injected intramuscularly (slowly over A-5 minutes). With the failure of drug therapy and an increase in stenosis of the larynx, a tracheostomy (or prolonged intubation) is indicated.