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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
Published on: January 17, 2011
[Perioperative Management of a Child with Vocal Adhesion Leading to Unexpected Difficult Airway]
Insights
Severe stridor in infants may indicate vocal cord adhesion, even with normal laryngofiberoptic exams. This condition can complicate anesthesia, requiring specialized intubation techniques.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Otolaryngology
- Neonatal Intensive Care
Background:
- A 4-month-old infant presented for bilateral lip plasty.
- The infant had a history of prolonged intubation due to neonatal pneumonia.
Observation:
- Post-extubation, the infant developed hoarseness and severe stridor.
- Multiple laryngofiberoptic examinations failed to identify airway abnormalities.
- Laryngoscopic intubation was impossible due to suspected vocal cord adhesion.
Findings:
- Vocal cord adhesion was diagnosed intraoperatively, necessitating fiberscope-guided tracheal intubation.
- The infant required intensive care post-surgery and a subsequent tracheotomy.
Implications:
- Infantile stridor warrants careful evaluation for airway narrowing, including vocal cord adhesion, prior to general anesthesia.
- Advanced airway management techniques may be crucial in cases with subtle or undiagnosed laryngeal pathology.
- Early recognition and intervention are vital for managing pediatric airway emergencies during anesthesia.
Abstract:
We report a child with vocal cord adhesion encountered during induction of anesthesia. A 4-month-old girl was scheduled for bilateral lip plasty. She was intubated for one week due to pneumonia at the age of 3 days. Hoarseness and stridor appeared just after extubation. Although laryngo-fiberoptic examination had been tried several times, otorhinologists could not find any abnormality. We once decided to postpone the operation because of severe stridor. However, laryngofiberoptic examination could not reveal any abnormality, and we rescheduled the operation. Tracheal intubation using laryngoscope was not possible due to vocal cord adhesion. Finally, 2.5 mm ID tracheal tube was intubated by using a fiberscope, and lip plasty was performed. The patient stayed in the ICU for 7 days after surgery. Tracheotomy was performed 3 weeks after the operation. We should pay attention to stridor in an infant before general anesthesia, since it suggests severe airway narrowing although laryngo-fiberoptic examination could not find any abnormalities.
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