[Laryngeal mask application for a case of unpredictable adult tracheal stenosis]

A 69-year-old man with chronic renal failure was scheduled for artero-venous shunt surgery for sustained hemodialysis. On the pre-anesthesia interview, the patient complained of no respiratory symptom. Chest x-ray showed some tracheal deviation. There was no past history of the respiratory system such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma, tumor, trauma or previous tracheal intubation. General anesthesia was induced smoothly with thiopental and suxamethonium. Face mask ventilation could be done easily. The vocal cord was exposed fully by standard McIntosh laryngoscope. However, a neither ID 7.5 nor 6.5 mm tracheal tube could be inserted into the trachea. Then, a size 4.0 laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted smoothly and ventilation was maintained adequately. The surgery was done smoothly. Seven days after, bronchofiber scopic findings showed tracheal stenosis. The cause was unknown but not from inflammation or tumor. The patient complained no respiratory distress after the surgery. In such unpredictable tracheal stenosis with easy mask ventilation, LMA is a considerable option for respiratory management.