The use of Pentax-AWS for a difficult airway due to post-thyroidectomy hematoma : A case report

Kim, Eun Seok; Shin, Young Duck; Lee, Keun Seok; Baek, Dhong Hion

Case Report

General Article

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2009;4(3):272-275.
Published online July 31, 2009.

The use of Pentax-AWS for a difficult airway due to post-thyroidectomy hematoma : A case report

Eun Seok Kim, Young Duck Shin, Keun Seok Lee, Dhong Hion Baek

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea. yydshin@cbnuh.or.kr

Abstract

Post-thyroidectomy hematoma is a rare complication, but this complication is potentially life threatening and unpredictable.This complication requires emergency tracheal intubation, which is often difficult because of swollen tissues, poor visualization of the glottis and the distorted airway anatomy.Using the direct laryngoscopy with a Macintosh laryngoscope, we were unable to see even the epiglottis.Pentax-AWS (Pentax-AWS(R), Pentax, Japan) is a new video laryngoscope that provides an indirect view of the glottis and it has a tube channel in the right side of the blade.We were able to fully view larynx with a Pentax-AWS, and then we intubated the trachea immediately and easily.The Pentax-AWS could be a useful alternative device that overcomes the above mentioned difficulties.

Key Words: equipment and supplies, intubation, thyroidectomy