Repeated Postanesthetic Laryngospasm in a Male Adult

Laryngospasm is a potential complication after general anesthesia that is universally dreaded because the failure to act swiftly and effectively could be fatal for the patient. This case report involves a morbidly obese male patient who received his first general anesthetic and experienced 4 episodes of laryngospasm within an hour after emergence. Laryngospasm occurs when the vocal cords adduct, closing the glottis, thereby preventing gas exchange in a spontaneously ventilating individual. This patient was able to physically indicate his impending glottic closure, thus warning his caregivers of the imminent airway emergency. He was safely intubated during the fourth episode and admitted to the intensive care unit for monitoring. After 2 days, the patient was extubated and recovered otherwise uneventfully. This case demonstrates the high level of vigilance required during all phases of anesthesia care.