Angiodedema Flashcards
1
Q
What is Angioedema?
A
- Swelling of the deep dermal, subcutaneous or submucosal tissue due to a vascular leakage
2
Q
Which organs does angioedema affect?
A
- lips, tongue, eye and face
3
Q
What makes angiodema a medical emergency?
A
- high risk of airway obstruction
4
Q
When to involve the ENT registrar?
A
- Informed urgently if the patient’s airway is suspected to be at risk
- Anaesthetist should be called as well
5
Q
Should patients with angioedema be admitted?
A
- Yes patients with angioedema should be admitted for 24hours for observation
- Either in ITU or on the Head and Neck ward
6
Q
What is the immediate and overnight managment for Angioedema?
A
- Stat does of Dexamethasone 8mg IV
- IV Chlorphenamine 4mg
- Heliox
- Adrenaline Nebulised form 1: 1000 adrenaline
7
Q
What are the risk factors and causes of Angioedema?
A
- Idiopathic
- Hypersensitivity from external stimuli - food, drugs, insect stings, pollen, animal dander, atopic conditions
- Hereditary - strong family history - associated with mutations of the C1 inhibitory gene
- Autoimmune disease = lupus
- Malignancy = Lymphoma/ Leukaemia
- Medications - NSAIDs and ACE inhibitors
- Physical factors - cold, heat, pressure, vibrations and UV radiation
8
Q
What other investigations may be important to do?
A
- FBC, U+E, CRP, LFTs, Coag screen
- Mast cell tryptase
- C1-esterase inhibitor levels
- ANA - lupus
- Rheumatoid factor
- serum RAST/ Skin prick testing
- complement screen
