AIRWAY-OBSTRUCTION IN HEMOPHILIA (FACTOR-VIII DEFICIENCY) - A 28-YEARINSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

Life-threatening airway compromise is rarely reported as a major compl ication of coagulation disorders. However, before adequate factor repl acement therapy became available, this complication was often fatal, A retrospective review of all patients with classic hemophilia admitted to our institution from 1964 through 1992 was performed. The records of 147 patients who had a total of 1804 admissions were examined. Fift een episodes of airway obstruction occurred. Additionally, 6 cases of potential airway compromise and 5 cases of airway-endangering orophary ngeal bleeding were identified. Tracheotomy was performed in 5 patient s; 1 fatality occurred before modern replacement products were availab le. Patients with this disorder have a 13% chance of some form of airw ay-endangering event with an 8% chance that it will be immediately lif e-threatening. Tracheotomy and subsequent decannulation are safe proce dures in these patients.