Difficult Tracheal Intubation Due to Lingual Tonsillar Hypertrophy: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Lingual tonsillar hypertrophy (LTH) is a rare and dangerous condition in the management of the upper airway. It is not detectable from the history or on routine preoperative physical examination. Enlarged lingual tonsils can cause posterior displacement. A 56 year old man was scheduled for emergency laryngeal microscopic surgery for the removal of a throat foreign body. After the induction of general anesthesia, intubation with a rigid laryngoscope was impossible due to LTH. After recovery of self respiration, the endotracheal tube intubation was possible by the combined use of a laryngoscope, Magil forceps and fiberoptic bronchoscope.