RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Laryngeal tuberculosis: a rare cause of critical airway obstruction
JF BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP bcr-2017-222841
DO 10.1136/bcr-2017-222841
VO 2018
A1 Abigail Elizabeth Cole
A1 Daniel Heaton
A1 Ahmed Chekairi
YR 2018
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2018/bcr-2017-222841.abstract
AB Laryngeal tuberculosis (TB) is a rare condition, occurring in less than 1% of patients infected with pulmonary TB. We present a case of a 57-year-old male patient, who presented in extremis with audible stridor, increased work of breathing and cyanosis. In addition, the patient had a complex medical history, including a recent diagnosis of congenital malformation of the epiglottis. Emergency intervention was required to secure the airway, and after initial attempts at intubation were unsuccessful, an emergency tracheostomy was performed. Four days after initial presentation, his sputum tested positive for acid-fast bacilli, and a subsequent CT chest revealed pulmonary as well as laryngeal TB, which was confirmed on biopsy of the larynx. The patient was commenced on a 24-week course of anti-tuberculous treatment and was successfully decannulated 6 months after the emergency airway was established.