Anesthesia for Resection of a Tracheal Tumor Using a Laryngeal Mask Airway in an Infant

Abstract

A 4-month-old boy was scheduled for resection of a tracheal tumor which occupied about 90% of the tracheal lumen. Intubation of an tracheal tube was deemed impossible. Anesthesia was induced by inhalation of sevoflurane in oxygen and fentanyl iv. After insertion of the LMA, anesthesia was maintained with O₂-sevoflurane-fentanyl while maintaining his spontaneous ventilation. Fiberoptic tracheobronchoscopy was performed through the LMA to observe the tumor and the operation site lest the tumor obstructs the tracheal lumen during surgical manipulation. Anesthesia was completed uneventfully. We conclude that the combination of LMA and fiberoptic observation of the trachea is useful for airway management of the tracheal tumor in infants.