Severe acute laryngotracheitis in Christchurch 1980-90.
A review of children admitted to Christchurch Hospital with acute laryngotracheitis over a 10 year and nine month period revealed that 894 admissions occurred for this condition. Forty-four (4.9%) were admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital, of whom 12 (1.3% of all laryngotracheitis admissions) required endotracheal intubation. The mean time of intubation was 170 hours (range 24-432). There were no deaths, although seven children who were intubated had serious complications, of which perforation of a gastric ulcer was the most important. In our group of patients intubation is a rare event, and the need for aggressive treatment with dexamethasone at the time of admission to the general ward is questioned.
Department of Paediatrics, Christchurch Hospital.
K P
KP
Dawson
N
N
Mogridge
G
G
Downward
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000517:prevention & control; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014136:Tracheitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents