Oropharyngeal Swelling and Airway Obstruction from Environmental Cold Exposure: A Case Report

Abstract

A 19-year-old male presented with facial frostbite and severe oropharyngeal edema after prolonged riding of a snowmobile without any facial covering. The diffuse swelling eventually progressed to airway obstruction, requiring a surgical airway. No alternative explanation was found for his presentation, making this the first case found in the literature of airway obstruction secondary to environmental cold exposure.