Acute apnea caused by an epiglottic cyst

• Published in: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology Vol. 42; no. 3; pp. 271 - 276
• Main Authors: Dahm, Markus C, Panning, Bernhard, Lenarz, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 1998
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Apnea; Apnea - diagnosis; Apnea - etiology; Benign tumors of the larynx; Child, Preschool; Complication; Cysts - complications; Cysts - pathology; Cysts - surgery; Epiglottic cyst; Epiglottis - pathology; Epiglottis - surgery; Female; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Hypothyroidism - complications; Hypothyroidism - diagnosis; Laryngeal Neoplasms - complications; Laryngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Laryngeal Neoplasms - surgery; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Respiratory distress; Retention cyst; Sedation; Epiglottic cyst; Apnea; Retention cyst; Complication; Respiratory distress; Sedation; Benign tumors of the larynx; Hypothyroidism
• ISSN: 0165-5876; 1872-8464
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-5876(97)00145-6

A life threatening complication in the course of routine sedation in a 5 year old child is reported in a case study. A retention cyst of the epiglottis was found to be responsible for obstruction of the larynx leading to acute apnea. The patient history revealed recurrent episodes of stridor previously diagnosed and treated as acute laryngotracheobronchitis as well as border line psychomotoric retardation. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging was performed for neuroradiological evaluation. After administration of sedation the child presented with stridor and acute apnea. Emergency orotracheal intubation could prevent tracheotomy but was complicated by the unexpected presence of a tumor at the base of the tongue. Further evaluation revealed a large epiglottic cyst. After endoscopic removal of the cyst no further episodes of apnea or stridor were noted.