Emergency treatment of airway obstruction caused by a laryngeal neuroendocrine tumor: A case report

Abstract

Rationale: Laryngeal obstruction is a life-threatening adverse event that requires urgent and appropriate management, particularly in patients with coexisting cardiopulmonary and brain comorbidities. However, laryngeal obstruction caused by laryngeal neuroendocrine tumors has rarely been reported.Patient concerns: Neuroendocrine tumors can cause pathological changes in the neuro-humoral system, and asphyxia caused by airway obstruction has a more adverse effect on patients with neuroendocrine tumors.Diagnoses: We report the case of a 64-year-old man with clinical manifestations of dyspnea. Preoperative and intraoperative pathological examination indicated that the patient was diagnosed with life-threatening airway obstruction caused by a laryngeal neuroendocrine tumor, pneumonia, and scoliosis. Interventions:The patient underwent laryngeal tumor resection under general anesthesia. He was recovered well and was generally good without the necessity of undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the 6-months follow-up.Outcomes: This case report has provided an emergency treatment strategy associated with awake intubation. We concluded that flexible establishment of an artificial airway, skilled anesthesia and surgical manipulation, and necessary postoperative intensive care are extremely important for improving the prognosis of patients with severely difficult airway. It is noteworthy that the timely adjust for endotracheal intubation strategy according to the patient's response is needed. It is important for the longterm prognosis of patients to avoid the establishment of a traumatic artificial airway and the occurrence of adverse complications.