Postextubation Airway Obstruction and Negative-pressure Pulmonary Edema Due to a Laryngeal Cyst: A case report

Abstract

Laryngeal cysts, including epiglottic cysts, are rare lesions which are clinically asymptomatic in many cases. Rarely laryngeal cysts cause unexpected airway management difficultties perioperatively. We report up on a case of laryngeal cyst that caused postextubation airway obstruction and negative-pressure pulmonary edema. A 25-year-old man was admitted for brain surgery with neurofibromatosis. He did not have any specific airway problem preoperatively, and anesthesia was done uneventfully. But when he was extubated after surgery, he revealed symptoms of upper airway obstruction in the recovery room. We reintubated him easily, and then we found a laryngeal cyst. Though negative-pressure pulmonary edema occurred after reintubation, he responded to conservative treatment and was discharged without specific problems. We present a review of postextubation airway obstruction and negative-pressure pulmonary edema due to a laryngeal cyst.