Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy via the Laryngeal Mask Airway: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been used with increasing frequency for many purposes. It is one of its advantages that there is no need of muscle relaxants to insert the LMA. So it can be used to look into the movement of glottis during spontaneous respiration. We report a case using a fiberoptic bronchoscope via the laryngeal mask under the impression of cricopharyngeal incoordination. The patient was a 17-days-old and 3.36-kg infant. After injecting glycopyrrolate 0.05mg and propofol 10mg intravenously, a size-1 LMA was inserted. Fiberoptic bronchoscope was inserted through the LMA. We could see the movement of vocal cords normal. Also, no structural abnormality was seen in the larynx and trachea. After removal of the LMA, conventional suspension laryngoscopy was performed to examine the epiglottis and hypopharynx. We could successfully assess the movement and/or structure of vocal cord and trachea. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy via the laryngeal mask airway may be a safe and convinient method in infants.