[Successful double-lumen tube intubation with the Pentax-AWS Airwayscope and a tracheal tube introducer in the lateral position for a patient with a giant mediastinal tumor].

Anesthetic management of a patient with giant mediastinal tumors is challenging from the perspective of both cardiovascular and respiratory management. We report the successful use of the Pentax-AWS Airwayscope (AWS; Hoya, Japan) and a tracheal tube introducer in the left lateral position for a patient with a giant mediastinal tumor. An 18-year-old man weighing 62 kg was scheduled for resection of a giant mediastinal tumor. He suffered from slight dyspnea in the supine position, and slept in the left lateral position. Preoperative chest X-P and computed tomography revealed compression of the left bronchus, heart and aorta. To avoid cardiac and respiratory collapse, anesthesia was induced in the left lateral position without a muscle relaxant. The patient was administered fentanyl 200 microg and propofol 150 mg; mask ventilation with the two-hand technique in the lateral position was successful. Subsequently, the AWS was inserted into his mouth and a 10 Fr tracheal tube introducer was placed in the trachea under the guidance of the AWS monitor. The patient was then intubated with a 35 Fr right-sided double-lumen tracheal tube under the guidance of the tracheal tube introducer. The head of the double-lumen tube was placed in the right bronchus under the guidance of a bronchofiberscope. Following tracheal tube placement, posture was shifted from the left lateral position to supine position without affecting vital signs. After median sternotomy, a muscle relaxant was administered for immobilization.