Egro F M, Sharma S, Baldwin D
Department of ENT,Southmead Hospital,Westbury-on-Trym,Bristol,UK.
Department of Respiratory Medicine,Southmead Hospital,Westbury-on-Trym,Bristol,UK.
J Laryngol Otol. 2015 Sep;129(9):932-4. doi: 10.1017/S0022215115001358.
Although type 2 respiratory failure is a plausible late presentation for laryngeal tumours, very little published literature is available to support this theory.
This paper describes the unusual presentation of a subglottic tumour with uncompensated type 2 respiratory failure.
The patient was initially managed with biphasic positive airway pressure as a bridging measure while awaiting intensive care treatment and to provide sufficient time to arrange a surgical tracheostomy.
This case highlights the importance of clinical suspicion towards subglottic tumours in patients presenting with type 2 respiratory failure. The positive outcome indicates that biphasic positive airway pressure is a potential bridging therapy for upper airway obstruction and a safe and stable treatment option for patients in respiratory distress.
