Intubating Layngeal Mask Airway in Awake Intubation / 대한마취과학회지

The incidence of difficult intubation varies from 1.5% to 13%, and failed intubation has been identified as one of the anesthesia-related causes of death or permanent brain damage. The Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway (ILMA) is a new modified laryngeal mask airway with the capability for guided tracheal intubation while maintaining ventilation. The ILMA was designed to improve blind endotracheal intubation through a laryngeal mask airway. It does not require head and neck manipulations on insertion. The success rate of blind intubation using the ILMA was up to 99.3% in patients with or without airway problems. We experienced two cases of the difficult endotracheal intubation due to cervical spine 1 2 fractured 34 years old female patient and cervical spine 5 6 fractured 62 years old female patient were done successful awake airway management through the ILMA with superior laryngeal nerve block with pharyngeal and endotracheal topical spray of lidocaine. These cases suggest that awake tracheal intubations through the ILMA is a safe and useful method for airway management in anesthetic care of cervical spine fracture patients.

A Successful Tracheostomy under General Anesthesia with Blind Intubation via ILMA in a Sitting Position / 대한마취과학회지

The intubating laryngeal masK airway is a newly available device designed to allow for blind endotracheal intubation and treatment of patients with difficult airways. Emergency tracheostomies are required for oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal tumors acutely obstructing the airway. Patients with an airway obstructive tumor maintain their airway by a very active inspiratory effort in a sitting position. In these patients, it may be impossible to position them for a tracheostomy with shoulder extension. We report a case where a patient was tracheostomized successfully under general anesthesia with blind intubation via ILMA insertion in a sitting position.