Overinflation of a King LT Extraglottic Airway Device Mimicking Ludwig’s Angina

Abstract

In this report, we describe the case of a young female with Down syndrome who presented to the anesthesia service after pulseless electrical activity arrest with a King LT(S)-D extraglottic airway device in situ. She had multiple predictors of difficult intubation, including what appeared to be a submental mass consistent with Ludwig's angina. She went on to receive an urgent tracheotomy because of those predictors but had full resolution of the submental mass on removal of the extraglottic airway device, which had been overinflated at the time of insertion. We outline the various techniques to establish a definitive airway with an extraglottic device in place.