An 87-year-old woman was brought by ambulance to the emergency department (ED) with fever and dyspnoea. There was audible stridor, and the patient was noted to have a large left-sided submandibular swelling. She was in respiratory distress with a respiratory rate of 30. She was administered 100% oxygen. The on-call anaesthetics and ear, nose and throat (ENT) team were called emergently on arrival of the patient due to concern regarding possible impending airway compromise.
