[The combined use of laryngoscope and Trachlight: another option for endotracheal intubation in patients with large epiglottic cysts].

Epiglottic cysts often cause difficulty in airway management. A 71-year-old man had extraction for an epiglottic cyst of 4 cm in diameter. Anesthesia was induced with small divided doses of propofol. After verifying that mask ventilation was possible under light anesthesia, vecuronium was used for muscle relaxation. Because of the size of the cyst, it was impossible to observe directly the larynx using a laryngoscope. Therefore, while moving the tongue to the left with the laryngoscope, an endotracheal tube was inserted into the trachea using the Trachlight. The operation was finished in 55-min and the patient was extubated 15 min after the end of the operation. His postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged from the hospital three days after the operation. The authors conclude that the combined use of the laryngoscope and Trachlight is helpful for endotracheal intubation in patients with large epiglottic cysts.