We report a case of difficult intubation due to a low located thyroid cartilage and a left deviated glottis abnormality. A 35-year-old woman was scheduled to undergo a laminectomy and discectomy for a L4-5 disc herniation. After injecting intravenous induction agents and muscle relaxant, intubation was attempted with a direct laryngoscope. However, no vocal cords were seen and only the epiglottis was seen albeit only slightly. According to Cormack and Lehane's grading, the patient was grade III. Although intubation was re-attempted after changing the anesthesiologist and device such as a light wand, the endotracheal tube could not be advanced below the epiglottis because of resistance. When patient was rechecked, her thyroid cartilage was located abnormally low and the thyromental distance was 14.5 cm. In addition, the preoperative chest X-ray revealed her airway to be deviated to the left. Intubation could be successfully performed after additional 100% oxygen mask ventilation. An otolaryngologic examination revealed that the glottic opening was deviated to the left, and ventricle of the larynx, which is normally not seen with a laryngocope was located to the center. It is believed that the reason for resistance of the advancing endotracheal tube was a centrally located ventricle of the larynx.
Adult ; Diskectomy ; Epiglottis ; Female ; Glottis ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laminectomy ; Laryngoscopes ; Larynx ; Masks ; Oxygen ; Thorax ; Thyroid Cartilage* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Ventilation ; Vocal Cords

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effective method to treat the glottic carcinoma invading the anterior commissure, we observed the difference of three kinds of operation to the anterior commissure of dogs by semiconductor laser. METHOD: Twelve dogs were divided into 3 groups at random, A: to cauterize to the thyroid cartilage's inner membrane of the anterior commissure, the right ventricular bands and vocal cord, the anterior and 1/3 of the left vocal cord; B: to cauterize part of the thyroid cartilage of the anterior commissure besides A; C: to open a window about 5 mm x 5 mm on the thyroid cartilage of the anterior commissure besides B. To take photos to observe the dogs' laryngeal wound with digital camera or electrolaryngoscope immediately, 1 week and 4 weeks, then to record the hoarseness, body weight and complications etc. RESULT: All the dogs' laser surgery were completed successfully. To observe the gross specimen, it was identical between the extent of excising and the design preoperation. One week later, the neonatal membrane covered the wound incomplete. Edematization, inflammatory reaction, pseudomembrane and the hoarseness were not heavy too. No obvious complication in group A. The neonatal membrane covered the wound incomplete. Edema, inflammatory reaction, pseudomembrane and granulation can be seen in group B. Exudation was heavy in local, erosion and infected, the hoarseness was severe. No other obvious complications in C. Different extent of adhesion could be seen at the anterior commissure in group A, B and C after 4 weeks, the laryngeal web formed, and the length of vocal cord was shorter than before. The color and luster of anterior commissure membrane was normal basically, the inflammatory reaction was not heavy in A and B groups. The anterior commissural membrane appeared the dark red chronic inflammatory reaction; the window was closed by neonatal membrane completely and had no infection in group C. To observe the gross specimen: the wound of anterior commissure was covered by prosthetic epithelia completely in three groups. The window was closed by complete membrane at the anterior commissure. The No. 1- 3 dog's conditions of hoarseness in three groups after 4 weeks: slight in A group, little severe in B and C group. The change of weight was not obvious at the pre or postoperative in group A and B. No obvious complication happened in each group postoperation. CONCLUSION The three operative methods have satisfied effects,the recovery of wound can cure well finally and no severe complications happened. It is valuable in clinic.
Animals ; Arytenoid Cartilage ; surgery ; Dogs ; Larynx ; surgery ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Thyroid Cartilage ; surgery ; Vocal Cords ; surgery

Schwannoma of the larynx are rare benign tumor. Most laryngeal schwannomas were seen at the aryepiglottic fold or the false vocal cords. But there were extremely rare reports about schwannoma of the epiglottis. We report an unusual case of epiglottic schwannoma with the literature.
Epiglottis ; Larynx ; Neurilemmoma ; Vocal Cords

Solitary neurofibroma of the glottis is extremely rare and accounts for only 0.1–1.5% of benign laryngeal tumors. Aryepiglottic fold is the most frequent involved site followed by arytenoids and ventricular folds. There have been few reports of neurofibroma of the true vocal cord. We report a case of neurofibroma which was deeply embedded in the vocal cord and misdiagnosed as muscle tension dysphonia with a review of literatures.
Dysphonia ; Glottis ; Larynx ; Muscle Tonus ; Neurofibroma ; Vocal Cords

Primary cartilaginous tumors of the laryngeal lesion are rare and it accounts for only 1% of laryngeal tumor pathology. They are most commonly located on the endolaryngeal surface of cricoid cartilage, and it is extremely rare to find them in vocal muscle lesion. In most cases, treatment of choice is based on surgical excision, and postoperative radiotherapy is typically recommended. We experienced a case of a 22-year-old young woman without underlying disease, presenting extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma of vocal cord, especially in the vocal muscle. The patient underwent mass excision through suspension laryngoscope and radiation therapy.
Chondrosarcoma* ; Cricoid Cartilage ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Muscles ; Laryngoscopes ; Larynx* ; Pathology ; Radiotherapy ; Vocal Cords ; Young Adult

Partial laryngectomy and pharyngectomy have been suggested for localized hypopharyngeal cancer to preserve the function of larynx. In case of limited partial laryngectomy, local soft tissue flaps are sufficient to provide adequate bulk for glottic closure. However, in case of extensive partial laryngectomy procedure in which more cartilaginous framework is resected, we feel an increased necessity of considering 'hard tissue' as well as soft tissue restoration to prevent airway collapse and glottic incompetency. We have tried radial forearm free flap including palmaris longus tendon for reconstruction of glottis and hypopharynx following a wide vertical hemilaryngopharyngectomy. We had 2 patients with hypopharyngeal cancers localized in pyriform sinus. The tendon was secured so as to drill holes in the cricoid and thyroid cartilage at the glottic level to help maintain the position of soft tissue lining and sewe as buttress for mobile vocal cord. A good restored phonation and respiration were obtained in two cases of hypopharyngeal cancer patients. But one patient suffered from frequent aspiration due to esophageal inlet stricture after radiation therapy.
Bays ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Forearm* ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Glottis* ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Hypopharynx ; Laryngectomy ; Larynx ; Pharyngectomy ; Phonation ; Pyriform Sinus ; Respiration ; Tendons ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Vocal Cords

A 27-yr old female patient who had a lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus was scheduled to undergo a laminectomy. In the past history, she has suffered from frequent upper respiratory infection and muffled voice. When we tried to intubate the patient for general anesthesia by routine method, we could not find the epiglottis and vocal cord. Fortunately we could intubate sucessfully through the folds were composed of hypertrophied aryepiglottic muscle and arytenoid cartilage between the tongue base and pharynx. In the postoperative period, we made observation of anatomical structure around the vocal cord by fiberoptic laryngoscope. We confirmed a congenital absence of epiglottis, hypertrophy of aryepiglottic fold and arytenoid region, elongated larynx and a large false vocal cord.
Anesthesia, General ; Arytenoid Cartilage ; Epiglottis* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Intubation* ; Laminectomy ; Laryngeal Muscles ; Laryngoscopes ; Larynx ; Pharynx ; Postoperative Period ; Tongue ; Vocal Cords ; Voice

Laryngomalacia is the most common congenital anomaly that causes inspiratory stridor and airway obstruction in the newborn. Symptoms begin to appear after weeks of age, become worse at 4-8 months, improve between 8-12 months, and usually heal naturally at 12-18 months. Despite these common natural processes, the symptoms of the disease can be very diverse and, in severe cases, require surgical treatment. The diagnosis can be made by suspicion of clinical symptoms and direct observation of the larynx with the spontaneous breathing of the child. Typical laryngeal features include omega-shaped epiglottis, retroflexed epiglottis, short aryepiglottic fold, poor visualization of the vocal folds, and edema of the posterior glottis, including inspiratory supra-arytenoid tissue prolapse. In this review, we discuss the classification and treatment based on symptoms and laryngoscopic findings in patients with laryngomalacia.
Airway Obstruction ; Child ; Classification* ; Comorbidity ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Epiglottis ; Glottis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Laryngomalacia* ; Larynx ; Prolapse ; Respiration ; Respiratory Sounds ; Vocal Cords

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been used with increasing frequency for many purposes. It is one of its advantages that there is no need of muscle relaxants to insert the LMA. So it can be used to look into the movement of glottis during spontaneous respiration. We report a case using a fiberoptic bronchoscope via the laryngeal mask under the impression of cricopharyngeal incoordination. The patient was a 17-days-old and 3.36-kg infant. After injecting glycopyrrolate 0.05mg and propofol 10mg intravenously, a size-1 LMA was inserted. Fiberoptic bronchoscope was inserted through the LMA. We could see the movement of vocal cords normal. Also, no structural abnormality was seen in the larynx and trachea. After removal of the LMA, conventional suspension laryngoscopy was performed to examine the epiglottis and hypopharynx. We could successfully assess the movement and/or structure of vocal cord and trachea. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy via the laryngeal mask airway may be a safe and convinient method in infants.
Ataxia ; Bronchoscopes ; Bronchoscopy* ; Epiglottis ; Glottis ; Glycopyrrolate ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Infant ; Laryngeal Masks* ; Laryngoscopy ; Larynx ; Propofol ; Respiration ; Trachea ; Vocal Cords

BACKGROUND: Many head and neck surgeons preferred the radiotherapy as a first choice in treating early laryngeal carcinoma(T1, T2) to surgical operation because of the relatively high curability(80-90%), organ preservation and better quality of life. If radiotherapy failed, some surgeons perform total laryngectomy as salvage operation, but others prefer to perform partial laryngectomy, which is increasing in tendency. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pattern of cancer invasion to the laryngeal cartilages using salvage laryngectomized cancer specimens which had recurred after radiotherapy. MATERIALS & METHOD: Preoperative computerized tomograpy images were retrospectively compared to postoperative salvage laryngectomized cancer specimens which had recurred after radiotherapy 13 cases from March, 1985 to February, 1994. RESULTS: 1) In laryngeal cacer recurred after radiotherapy, incidence of cartilage invasion was not in early supragolttic cancer. but all in advanced supraglottic cancer, and 3cases of 5 cases(60.0%) in early glottic cancer, 4cases of 5 cases(80.0%) in advanced glottic cancer. 2) The order of laryngeal cartilage invasion was the first thyroid cartilage(61.5%), the second arytenoid cartilage(30.7%), and the third cricoid cartilage(23.1%). 3) The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative CT scan for laryngeal cartilage invasion was 66.7% in thyroid cartilage, 55.6% in arytenoid cartilage, 55.6% in cricoid cartilage, and 100% in epiglottis. CONCLUSION: Selection of partial laryngectomy as salvage operation should be considered carefully.
Arytenoid Cartilage ; Cartilage ; Cricoid Cartilage ; Epiglottis ; Head ; Incidence ; Laryngeal Cartilages* ; Laryngectomy* ; Neck ; Organ Preservation ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Thyroid Gland ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed