Korean J Anesthesiol.  1998 Oct;35(4):751-755. 10.4097/kjae.1998.35.4.751.

Dislocation of Left Arytenoid Cartilage after Endotracheal Intubation Using Light Wand: A case report

• Kim SH
• Kim PG
• Kim YD
• Kim YH
• Kang SH

• KMID: 2091299
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1998.35.4.751

Abstract

Complications from use of the light wand have been reported rarely. We present a case of arytenoid cartilage dislocation incurred by using this technique for intubation of a patient. A 35-year-old healthy woman was admitted for microsurgical cervical diskectomy. Anesthesia was induced and a 7.0 mm cuffed endotracheal tube with a light wand was inserted during blind orotracheal intubation. The trachea was extubated without any difficulty in the operating room after the surgery. In the third postoperative day, the patient complained sore throat and mild hoarseness. In the eighth postoperative day, the patient was discharged for follow-up of Department of neurosurgery. In the second day after the discharge, she was consulted to otolaryngology service in our hospital because she suffered from persistent hoarseness. Flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy revealed anterior and inferior dislocation of left arytenoid cartilage. The patient was taken to the operating room for reduction of the dislocated cartilage by the otolaryngologists. Despite the delayed reduction, which was performed tenth day after her initial injury, the patient,s hoarseness had resolved completely without further treatment.

Keyword

Anatomy: arytenoid; cartilage; Complications: dislocation; hoarseness; sore throat; Equipment: light wand; nasopharyngolaryngoscopy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anesthesia
Arytenoid Cartilage*
Cartilage
Diskectomy
Dislocations*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hoarseness
Humans
Intubation
Intubation, Intratracheal*
Neurosurgery
Operating Rooms
Otolaryngology
Pharyngitis
Trachea