Severe upper airway obstruction and difficult intubation in cicatricial pemphigoid.
Upper airway obstruction in cicatricial pemphigoid is rarely seen by the anaesthetist. A case of severe dyspnoea due to progressive laryngeal obstruction is presented. Tracheal intubation during induction of general anaesthesia for permanent tracheostomy was extremely difficult and was successfully performed by introducing a size 12 French suction catheter through the stenotic laryngeal orifice. Adequate ventilation was achieved by using the oxygen flush valve to deliver oxygen intermittently through the catheter.
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000150:complications*; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000150:complications*; D014140:Tracheotomy