Anesth Prog. 2024 May 3;71(1):24-28. doi: 10.2344/anpr-70-03-06.
Radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer, which has made remarkable progress in recent years, is one of the main treatment modalities because it can preserve organ function and morphology after treatment. However, while RT is widely used, complications have been reported, especially laryngeal edema, which can be an airway management problem during general anesthesia. Of the 3 cases of RT-induced laryngeal edema presented here, the first developed 4 days post-RT, the second manifested signs and symptoms associated with laryngeal edema after RT performed 4 years and 4 months previously, and the third exhibited severe laryngeal edema over a decade post-RT despite the absence of clinical signs and symptoms. Patients with a previous history of RT involving the head and neck region may encounter challenges in airway management due to laryngeal edema. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the airway preoperatively and devise a comprehensive airway management plan that encompasses various devices and techniques.
放射治疗（RT）是头颈部癌症的主要治疗方法之一，近年来取得了显著进展，因为它可以在治疗后保留器官功能和形态。然而，尽管 RT 被广泛应用，但也有并发症的报道，特别是喉水肿，这可能是全身麻醉期间气道管理的问题。这里介绍的 3 例 RT 引起的喉水肿中，第 1 例发生在 RT 后 4 天，第 2 例在 RT 后 4 年零 4 个月出现与喉水肿相关的症状和体征，第 3 例在 RT 后 10 多年出现严重的喉水肿，但无临床症状和体征。有头颈部 RT 既往史的患者可能会因喉水肿而在气道管理方面遇到挑战。因此，术前评估气道并制定全面的气道管理计划至关重要，该计划应涵盖各种设备和技术。
