Abstract
Angioedema is defined by non-dependent, non-pitting edema that affects several different sites and is potentially life-threatening due to laryngeal edema. This narrative review provides emergency physicians with a focused overview of the evaluation and management of angioedema. Two primary forms include histamine-mediated and bradykinin-mediated angioedema. Histamine-mediated forms present similarly to anaphylaxis, while bradykinin-mediated angioedema presents with greater face and oropharyngeal involvement and higher risk of progression. Initial evaluation and management should focus on evaluation of the airway, followed by obtaining relevant historical features, including family history, medications, and prior episodes. Histamine-mediated angioedema should be treated with epinephrine intramuscularly, antihistaminergic medications, and steroids. These medications are not effective for bradykinin-mediated forms. Other medications include C1-INH protein replacement, kallikrein inhibitor, and bradykinin receptor antagonists. Evidence is controversial concerning the efficacy of these medications in an acute episode, and airway management is the most important intervention when indicated. Airway intervention may require fiberoptic or video laryngoscopy, with preparation for cricothyrotomy. Disposition is dependent on patient’s airway and respiratory status, as well as the sites involved.
Highlights
Supraglottic and extraglottic airway devices are common rescue devices; they are not recommended in patients with angioedema, as the device will remain above the site of airway obstruction.[1,4,7,8,85]
Histamine-mediated forms can present to anaphylaxis, while bradykinin-mediated angioedema is slower in onset, presents with greater face and oropharyngeal involvement, and has higher risk of progression
Initial evaluation and management should focus on the airway, followed by an evaluation for family history, medications, and prior episodes
Summary
Angioedema accounts for 80,000 to 112,000 emergency department (ED) visits per year, with a hospitalization rate of 4.0 per 100,000 population.[10,11,12] For patients taking angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), the incidence of angioedema ranges from 0.1-0.7% over a patient’s lifetime, while the prevalence of hereditary angioedema (HAE) ranges from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 50,000 persons.[6,10,11,12,13,14,15] Over 50% of patients with HAE require ED management, with over half of patients admitted to the hospital.[1,2,3] ACEi-mediated angioedema accounts for 30% of angioedema cases. Of the cases of ACEimediated angioedema, one study found 18% of patients were admitted to observation, 12% to the inpatient setting, and 11% to the intensive care unit.[1,16] Due to risk of airway involvement and death, the emergency physician (EP) plays a key role in assessment and management of angioedema.[1,2,17,18]
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