Anatomical variant of the glottis: a difficult airway?

Authors

  • Any Minerva Miyagi Yonamine Facultative Specialist in Anesthesiology and Resuscitation of the Severo Ochoa University Hospital, Leganés - Madrid
  • Patricia Lloreda Herradón Facultative Specialist in Anesthesiology and Resuscitation of the Severo Ochoa University Hospital, Leganés - Madrid
  • Vanesa Blazquez Calvo Facultative Specialist in Anesthesiology and Resuscitation of the Severo Ochoa University Hospital, Leganés - Madrid
  • Juan José Correa Barrera Facultative Specialist in Anesthesiology and Resuscitation of the Severo Ochoa University Hospital, Leganés - Madrid

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30445/rear.v14i7.1050

Keywords:

Difficult airway, variante anatómica, glottis

Abstract

A 70-year-old man with prostate neoplasia. Finding in the extension study of a lung mass compatible with lung neoplasia. He was referred to the pulmonology service for study.

Appointment for diagnostic fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

Obese patient with difficult airway predictors: short neck, III / IV mesh, thyromental distance <6cm. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is performed under deep sedation.

When introducing the fiberoptic bronchoscope, anatomical variation with significant glottic destructuring, poor differentiation of the epiglottis, arytenoids, and adjacent structures was visualized. The entrance to the trachea is intuited by the appearance of a small opening hole with the inspiration of the patient.

This image shows that the difficulty for intubation not only corresponds to poor visualization of the airway due to difficulty in direct or indirect laryngoscopy maneuvers, but also due to the existence of non-pathological anatomical variants that represent a challenge even in experienced hands. 

Published

2022-08-08

How to Cite

Miyagi Yonamine, A. M., Lloreda Herradón, P., Blazquez Calvo, V. ., & Correa Barrera, J. J. (2022). Anatomical variant of the glottis: a difficult airway?. Revista Electrónica AnestesiaR, 14(7). https://doi.org/10.30445/rear.v14i7.1050