Laryngeal mask for airway management in open tracheal surgery—a retrospective analysis of 54 cases

Open resection of the stenotic part of the trachea is complex thoracic procedure performed only in specialized centers. Surgical resection is the most effective treatment for short stenosis of the trachea and its carina. With careful patient selection, meticulous surgical and anesthetic techniques, both perioperative mortality and complication rates are considered acceptable (1). Adequate access to the lumen of trachea is required by the surgeon; simultaneously sufficient ventilation and gas exchange must be provided by the anesthesiologist (2,3). Adequate ventilation and oxygenation should be provided both in the pre-operative stenotic airway and in the intra/post-operative transected airway. Management of a patent airway in the immediate postoperative period is also challenging due to tracheal edema and forced cervical flexion positioning (4). Any cough or gagging should be strictly avoided because it can cause rupture of tracheal anastomosis (5)