Case Report: Post-Operative Airway Obstruction in A Patient with Reinke’s Edema

Abstract

Here we present the case of a 64 year old female with a history of neck radiation and Reinke's edema that experienced unexpected respiratory failure after a sedation anesthetic. After the case terminated, the patient was noted to be hypoventilating and stridorous. Mask ventilation, laryngeal mask airway ventilation, and direct laryngoscopy failed. The patient was intubated with video laryngoscopy. Reinke's edema, a benign lesion characterized by swelling of the vocal folds, was thought to contribute to the difficulty in ventilating and intubating this patient. We present a discussion of Reinke's edema and its potential relevance to the practice of anesthesia.