POCUS of the Month is back!
Introduction to Lung Ultrasound
New Series! Pediatric Anesthesia Vodcast (en Español)
Consideraciones Perioperatorias: Bronchoespasmo en Anestesia Pediátrica
Have you visited our External Resources page lately? New content has been added! Use the filters to find just what you're looking for.
New! Create a free account on OpenAnesthesia.org!
We want to know more about you to create the content you seek!
Check out the latest OpenAnesthesia Summaries!
More than 400 mini-reviews on high-yield topics in anesthesiology, critical care, and perioperative medicine.
Question of the Day
You are evaluating a 4-year-old boy for an urgent endoscopy. He was previously healthy and active but complained of a severe sore throat earlier today. His family elected to avoid vaccines for fear of autism. On exam, he is febrile and is sitting upright with his hands and on his knees with his neck extended. He is tachypneic and has excess salivation from his mouth. His voice is muffled and you note inspiratory stridor. Which of the following is the MOST likely explanation for his respiratory distress?
Explanation
Epiglottitis is an uncommon bacterial infection of the epiglottis. It is usually rapid onset and presents with high fever, leukocytosis, and significant respiratory distress. Patients may be sitting upright, salivating, with their head extended. Haemophilus influenzae used to be a common cause of epiglottis but this has diminished significantly with the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine.
References:
Epiglottitis and Croup
OA Series: March 2025
Vodcast
03:51
Pediatric Anesthesia Vodcast (en Español)
Consideraciones Perioperatorias: Bronchoespamo en Anestesia Pediátrica