Laryngeal Fiberscopic Surgery Using Laryngeal Mask Airway

The location of laryngeal lesions sometimes complicates surgical treatment of laryngeal disease using laryngo-microsurgery. For treatment of these cases, laryngeal-fiberscopy via laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was performed. LMA is a very useful device which provides an oropharyngeal airway and offers an alternative to endotracheal intubation and standard mask anesthesia in these cases. Fifteen patients in whom laryngo-microsurgery was seemed difficult, were chosen for this study. Of these 15 patients, 4 were diagnosed with vocal cord polyps, 4 with papilloma, 3 with carcinoma, 2 with leukoplakia, 1 with a cyst and 1 with an angioma. The technique of laryngeal fiberscopy via LMA readily allows full examination of the larynx and trachea. This method facilitates precise biopsy and laser surgery of both the larynx and trachea. Use of the LMA is also recommended for treatment of cases of papilloma or malignancy, because it minimizes the risk of dissemination of malignant cells or papilloma cells to the trachea and lung. We concluded that this procedure is potentially very advantageous when laryngo-microsurgery is difficult to perform.