Intubating Layngeal Mask Airway in Awake Intubation / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

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.