Airway obstruction due to a laryngeal polyp following insertion of a laryngeal mask airway

BACKGROUND: Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion contributes to airway protection in patients with a laryngeal tumor around the glottis. There has been no report of LMA insertion itself exacerbating airway obstruction in such patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old male underwent elective surgical resection of a large laryngeal polyp. The polyp was attached to the right vocal fold and synchronously swung inward into the trachea and outward to the larynx with inspiration and expiration, respectively. Although manual positive pressure ventilation was easily achieved without any airway obstruction after anesthetic induction, the airway was completely obstructed by the polyp lodged between the vocal cords immediately after LMA insertion. Soon after removal of the LMA, patency of the airway was dramatically improved. CONCLUSION: Our experience indicates that we should pay attention to airway obstruction due to lodging of the polyp between the vocal cords after LMA insertion in patients with a laryngeal polyp.