Successful use of supraglottic airway in a professional singer undergoing laparoscopic living donor right hepatectomy: A case report

ABSTRACT

A 25-year old female singer was scheduled to undergo a right hepatectomy for her father's liver transplantation. Her two main requests were rapid recovery and prevention of cosmetic complications, and the avoidance of postoperative laryngeal damage. Thus, we decided to use a laparoscopic surgical approach and the second-generation supraglottic airway (Protector™ supraglottic airway). After anesthetic induction, the supraglottic airway was placed at the first attempt, and its performance was tested using the oropharyngeal leak pressure and maximal minute volume ventilation tests. Throughout the surgery, the cuff pressure of the supraglottic airway was maintained in the green zone. The Protector™ supraglottic airway was successfully used during 300 minutes of anesthesia, and it only caused mild postoperative sore throat without hoarseness or aspiration. Anesthesiologists should consider using the supraglottic airway proactively in laparoscopic living donor right hepatectomies when professional voice users undergo surgery.