INTRODUCTION
FROM TIME to time the causes and treatment of acute obstruction of the upper respiratory tract need to be brought to the attention of the medical profession. The number of these cases in relation to the total number of admissions to a 560-bed general hospital is not large, but the urgency of prompt correct therapy in order to save lives gives them an importance beyond their numbers. Their urgent nature makes it imperative that all practitioners, as well as many of the specialists, know how to manage these problems. The care of these patients during the first few hours of the acute obstructive episode is important. We have thought it helpful to review the cases entering Episocopal Hospital during a five-year period. In this paper we shall present representative cases of the various types of obstruction which have been encountered and review the manner in which they were managed.