A case of laryngopharyngeal burn after ingestión of hot food requiring emergency airway management

Abstract

We report a case of burns of the larynx caused by hot food in which emergency airway management was required. A 36-year old male carne to the hospital with a sore throat 14 hours after ingesting hot food (takoyaki, a Japanese dumpling containing octopus). Fiberscopic examination revealed mild edema of the aryepiglotic fold. The patient refused hospitalization against medical advice and went home after a corticosteroid injection, but returned to the hospital by ambulance with severe dyspnea the next day (44 hours after the injury). A considerably swollen epiglottis were seen on fiberscopy. Since endotracheal intubation was expected to be difficult, surgical cricothyroidotomy was performed for the relief of the airway obstruction. If a laryngeal burn is suspected, the patient should be hospitalized and observed carefully for 24-48 hours.