[Airway Management Utilizing an air-Q blocker in a Patient with Motor Neuron Disease and Soft Palate Paralysis].

A 67-year-old woman suffering from hoarseness or dysphagia was diagnosed with motor neuron disease. She was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia for suspected gallbladder cancer. She was concerned about the exacerbation of her hoarseness or dysphagia from tracheal intubation. We therefore decided to perform airway management by using supraglottic device air-Q blocker, through which a gastric tube could be inserted. We first passed the gastric tube through the outer blocker hole and inserted it into the esophagus using Magill forceps. The air-Q blocker was placed position under the guidance of a McGrath videolaryngoscope. Sealing pressure was over 20 cmH2O and mechanical ventilation was performed uneventfully during artificial pneumoperitoneum. We were able to deflate the stomach and perform tracheal suction via the inner hole of the air-Q. Following the operation, the patient developed neither hoarseness nor pharyngeal pain.