A Case of Laryngeal Mask Airway-Assisted Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a widely used method to perform tracheostomy in the critical care medicine for patients who need prolonged mechanical ventilation. Traditionally, PDT has been facilitated by bronchoscopy via the endotracheal tube. However, there are risks for blocking the view of correct puncture site on the trachea or being extubated unintentionally, which lead to loss of the airway. These complications are possibly due to insufficient bronchoscopic visualizations via endotracheal tube during the procedure. Using laryngeal mask airways (LMA) during PDT may overcome these problems and could provide a safer alternative method with superior visualizations of the trachea and larynx. We report a case of percutaneous tracheostomy being performed successfully under bronchoscopy with LMA in the intensive care unit.