title: Malposition of the epiglottis after tracheal intubation via the intubating laryngeal mask.
abstract: The intubating laryngeal mask has been reported to be a successful method of tracheal intubation although advancement of the tracheal tube via the laryngeal inlet into the trachea cannot be seen. Damage to the larynx or other tissues may occur during blind passage of a tracheal tube. We report a case in which the tracheal tube, advanced blindly, tucked the epiglottis into the laryngeal inlet, resulting in oedema of the epiglottis. This case illustrates the potential for airway obstruction after extubation when using the intubating laryngeal mask as a blind intubation guide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Nippon Steel Yawata Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takenaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagaoka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niijima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kadoya
mesh_terms: D004825:Epiglottis / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008875:Middle Aged