Airway rescue with the intubating laryngeal mask in a patient with an uexpectedly large epiglottic cyst

Abstract

We report the successful use of the intubating laryngeal mask airway for rescue and intubation in an anaesthetised patient with an unexpectedly large epiglottic cyst. This case illustrates that airway rescue and intubation with the intubating laryngeal mask is possible and preoperative airway assessment does not always provide reliable information about airway management.

Congenital epiglottic cyst presenting with severe airway obstruction at birth

“…7 In older infants flexible guide wire combined with fibro-optic bronchoscope 8 and intubating laryngeal mask airway have been found useful in cases with a difficult airway. 9 Gutierrez et al…”

Anesthesia induction for a difficult intubation infant with a laryngeal cyst

“…An intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway™ (LMA North America, Inc., San Diego, CA) is sometimes useful. 7,8 However, fiberoptic intubation is the first technique to use for the safest intubation. 9 We used a fiberscope for observation the larynx before intubation.…”

Vallecular cyst in an infant with stridor: a case report

“…Vallecular cysts may also be discovered during general anaesthesia administration where they may obscure view of glottis and cause difficult endotracheal intubation [21,22]. In such cases simple aspiration followed by intubation with laryngeal mask may help manage difficult airway [23]. Rarely such cyst may present as sudden death in adults.…”