Projects

Aim: To evaluate the clinical presentation, underlying causes, and management challenges of acute stridor during pregnancy, and to demonstrate how crucial a multidisciplinary approach is in ensuring optimal maternal and fetal outcomes.
Materials and methods: This retrospective case series was undertaken in a tertiary care facility, which included three pregnant women who presented with acute stridor. Patient records were reviewed to obtain information on gestational age at presentation, clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, airway management, perioperative care, and pregnancy outcomes. All patients were managed with input from otolaryngology, anesthesia, and obstetrics teams, with continuous fetal monitoring during interventions.
Results: The three patients presented at gestational ages of 32, 35, and 20 weeks. Etiologies included bilateral vocal cord abductor palsy, carcinoma of the larynx, and idiopathic subglottic stenosis (SGS). All patients exhibited significant airway compromise necessitating surgical airway intervention. Tracheostomy was performed in each case under close hemodynamic and fetal surveillance. Multidisciplinary coordination allowed stabilization of maternal respiratory status while safeguarding fetal well-being. All pregnancies progressed to term with no major maternal or neonatal complications.
Conclusion: Although uncommon, acute stridor during pregnancy poses a potentially fatal risk requiring urgent airway intervention. Multidisciplinary involvement is essential to ensure maternal safety and favorable fetal outcomes.