A Case of Ventilation Failure due to an Enormous Polyp that Fell from the Vocal Cord Due to Tracheal Intubation

Abstract

A 72-year old man complained of dyspnea and was transferred to our hospital. Tracheal intubation was carried out due to hypoxemia, followed by improvement of his respiratory condition. On the day following the intubation, the patient was extubated, but dyspnea and cyanosis appeared immediately. He was intubated again, but his respiratory condition did not improve. Bronchofiberscopic examination revealed that an enormous vocal cord polyp obstructed the trachea. Tracheostomy was performed, and the polyp was removed under sevoflurane inhalation to recover spontaneous breathing.
Tracheal intubation should be performed carefully, especially in patients with enormous vocal cord polyps.