Laryngospasm associated with anesthesia: diagnosis and management

Abstract

Securing the airway is the most important part of anesthesia safety. In clinical practice there is always the risk of encountering laryngospasm, which is defined as the occlusion of the glottis by the action of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Once laryngospasm occurs, it leads to acute desaturation and subsequent organ dysfunction. In spite of such a dramatic deterioration, however, there are no systematic reviews that include pathophysiology, clinical incidence, prevention and its treatment. In this paper, we have reviewed laryngospasm, according to the induction of anesthesia and emergence from it, methods for securing the airway using a tracheal tube or a laryngeal mask airway, and the timing of tracheal extubation. In addition, we have summarized a prompt diagnosis and adequate prevention and management of laryngospasm associated with anesthesia.