[Emergency amygdalectomy and adenoidectomy in children with upper respiratory obstruction].

Hypertrophy of the adenoids and tonsils in children sometimes produces life-threatening upper airway obstruction that requires emergency endotracheal intubation followed by adenotonsillectomy. Four patients, age range 18 months to 3 years, who required emergency treatment in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit were studied for acute respiratory distress syndrome with cyanosis and use of accessory respiratory muscles. Two had orotracheal intubation to stabilize their cardiorespiratory situation before surgery. One presented cardiomegaly and secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension. The third remained stable and adequately ventilated with naso-hypopharyngeal ventilation. The fourth remained in intensive care for its clinical situation, but did not require exceptional measures.