A Survey of Upper Aerodigestive Tract Emergencies Seen in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Background: Emergencies of the upper aerodigestive tract are not uncommon in our environment and can be 
life threatening and challenging to the otolaryngologists. 
Objective: To assess the size and distribution of upper aerodigestive emergencies in our setting, to obtain base 
line data and outline preventive measures. 
Patients and methods: It was a retrospective study of patients seen with upper aerodigestive tract emergencies 
in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Port Harcourt, Nigeria within the period of January 
2004 and December 2010. Patient records were retrieved from the Accident and Emergency (A/E) registers, 
Children Emergency Ward (CHEW) records, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) ward registers and theatre registers.  
The data analyzed were demographic data, clinical presentations, etiological factors of upper aerodigestive 
emergencies, complications, treatment and outcome.  
Results: A total of 142 patients presented with upper aerodigestive tract emergencies within the study period 
out of 4,580 ENT emergencies giving a prevalence of 3.1% of the total number of patients with ENT 
emergencies.  The total ENT cases seen were 62,400 cases. There were 74 males and 68 females. The age range 
was 1-65 years with a mean of 22.16 ± 16.25 years. Age group 1-10 years accounted for majority of the cases 54 
(38.02%).  Foreign bodies ranked highest as an etiological factor of these emergencies. Difficulty in breathing, 
odynophagia and dysphagia were the commonest modes of clinical presentation 80 (56.34%). There were 
50(35.2%) emergency tracheostomies done and mortality occurred in two patients. 
Conclusion: The commonest etiological factor responsible for most of the upper aerodigestive tract 
emergencies was FB aspiration/ ingestion. The burden of upper aerodigestive tract emergencies in our 
environment is enormous. Therefore, the A/E department physicians should be well equipped to successfully 
resuscitate the patients before referring them to otolaryngologists