Upper airway obstruction

Etiology

Acute

  • Foreign-body aspiration
  • Laryngospasm
  • Angioedema
  • Laryngeal edema from airway burns
  • Trauma to larynx or pharynx
  • Epiglottitis
  • Pharyngeal or retropharyngeal abscess
  • Ludwig's angina
  • Acute allergic laryngitis
  • Vocal cord dysfunction

Chronic

  • Carcinoma of larynx or pharynx
  • Laryngeal or subglottic stenosis
  • Laryngeal granulomas or webs
  • Bilateral vocal cord paralysis
  • Vocal cord dysfunction

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.

Last updated: December 1, 2014