A Rare Cause of Acute Dyspnoea: Reinke Oedema

Cheah SC 1 , Yee LW 2 , Kok WL 2 , Nazri Zamri FI 3 , Baki MM 1

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sarawak General Hospital, 93586 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Pathology, Sarawak General Hospital, 93586 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2023 Sep;75(3):2420-2422.
PMID: 37636736 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-03714-4

Abstract

Reinke oedema is a benign condition due to fluid collection within subepithelial space of the true vocal fold. This phenomenon is predisposed by chronic smoking, alcohol consumption and contribution of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Although benign, it may be life threatening when bilateral vocal folds are affected causing airway obstruction. In this report, awake tracheostomy was performed for a 65- year- old lady with stridor secondary to severe Reinke oedema. The importance of establishing a definitive airway is highlighted here in securing a difficult airway.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-03714-4.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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