Emergency Cricothyrotomy : Undiagnosed Subglottic Tumor : A case report

Abstract

Case : The present case was of a 78-year-old male. In the early morning of the winter, he fell down in the hallway of his house. Upon arrival, he exhibited disturbed consciousness (GCS : E1V1M5) and hypothermia (rectal temperature : 29.5°C). Tracheal intubation was attempted, but we could not insert the tube over the vocal folds due to severe airway stenosis. Therefore, a cricothyroidotomy was performed immediately to achieve airway management. After hospitalization, it was revealed that the cause was a subglottic carcinoma. While subglottic carcinoma is rare, but we must consider it when dealing with cases of difficult tracheal intubation or impending suffocation.