Airtraq® optical laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in a patient with giant lipoma at the nape: a case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lipoma is a progressively increasing disease which may appear anywhere in the body. Its appearance at the back of the neck, especially when it is large enough to cause restriction of neck extension, poses challenges to anesthesiologists in airway management whenever needed. This paper evaluates the role of Airtraq® in restricted neck movement. CASE REPORT: Case with a huge lipoma of 14×12cm at the nape, and its surgical removal during an elective operation theatre posed difficulty in securing the airway by conventional laryngoscopy. To overcome the problem we successfully used a newly developed device, the Airtraq®, which is an optical laryngoscope for securing the airway.
CONCLUSION: Airtraq® can be used for elective intubation in patients with restricted neck movements.