Use of premolded armored tube for a patient with tracheal stenosis: A case report

ABSTRACT

It is essential to predict possibility of difficulties beforehand in ventilating or intubating the patient for the safe airway management and anesthetic maintenance. Even if there is no internal invasion, external compression of an enlarged neck mass can cause tracheal stenosis. The patient with nontoxic goitor had symptoms of dysphagia, exertional dyspnea and wheezing. There was difficulty in endotracheal passage of small bronchoscope through the compressed portion of the trachea during preoperative bronchoscopic examination. We premolded an armored endotracheal tube to fit the patient's trachea based on chest radiography, computed tomography and brochoscopic findings. Endotracheal intubation and thyroidectomy was successful and the patient discharged without any complication. We report a new method of intubation in patient with nontoxic goiter that obstructs the trachea by compression.