[The use of "laryngospasm notch" in a patient who was unable to breathe during general anesthesia with a ProSeal laryngeal mask airway--the effect of Kino's approach].

We report a case where "laryngospasm notch" technique was used in a patient to initiate spontaneous respiration during general anesthesia. The patient was a 43-year-old woman who underwent conization. A Pro-Seal laryngeal mask airway was inserted after induction of general anesthesia. General anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane (1.7-2%) and fentanyl. Surgical course was uneventful until the patient became unable to breathe towards the end of surgery. Positive-pressure ventilation was applied, but the patient could not be ventilated. "Laryngospasm notch" technique was performed by applying digital pressure in front of the tragus of the ears, and the patient began to breathe spontaneously. We describe our experience with the "laryngospasm notch" technique applied to the front of the tragus of the ears to treat laryngospasm.