Another cause of difficult airway in an elderly patient: Tongue-base abscess


Binar M., Arslan F., Aydin U.

Gerodontology, cilt.35, sa.2, ss.155-158, 2018 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 35 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2018
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/ger.12330
  • Dergi Adı: Gerodontology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.155-158
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: airway obstruction, difficult intubation, oral hygiene, tongue-base abscess
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: An abscess of the tongue base is rare, but it can be a potentially life-threatening situation in elderly patients. Case report: A 72-year-old male patient presented with mid-anterior neck swelling, odynophagia, poor oral hygiene and severe dyspnoea. After a difficult intubation, the muscles were dissected via a submental suprahyoid approach and the abscess was drained. Conclusion: Poor oral hygiene may predispose elderly patients to tongue-base abscesses. An early decision should be made for surgical drainage due to the risk of airway obstruction.