ACUTE APNEA CAUSED BY AN EPIGLOTTIC CYST

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 episode s of strider previously diagnosed and treated as acute laryngotracheob ronchitis as well as border line psychomotoric retardation. Cerebral m agnetic resonance imaging was performed for neuroradiological evaluati on. After administration of Sedation the child presented with strider and acute apnea. Emergency orotracheal intubation could prevent trache otomy but was complicated by the unexpected presence of a tumor at the base of the tongue. Further evaluation revealed a large epiglottic cy st. After endoscopic removal of the cyst no further episodes of apnea or strider were noted. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.