Introduction

D-blade (Doerges/difficult airway blade) is a remarkable extension of the C Mac videolaryngoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) in the anesthesiologist’s armamentarium with untapped potential benefits (Shah et al., 2016a; Shah et al., 2016b). In those difficult airway patients undergoing microlaryngeal surgery(MLS), where the extent of surgical resection does not warrant a postoperative tracheostomy, preoperative surgical airway can be avoided by skilful use of the D-blade in awake/anesthetized spontaneously breathing patients.

A throat pack comprises surgical gauze that absorbs fluids and stops surgical debris from entering the aerodigestive tract. Throat packs may alarmingly vanish, despite following a definite protocol for their safe insertion and removal (Colbert et al., 2012). D-blade is valuable in scanning the oropharynx in the event of a lost throat pack.

Case report

A 37-year-old, 45-kg lady presented at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre with dysphagia. MRI revealed a massive hemangioma in the posterior supraglottic region involving both aryepiglottic folds extending into the right pyriform sinus. Her hematological and biochemical investigations were normal and laser excision was planned.

Patient was not premedicated. After applying standard monitors and securing an IV line in the operation theatre, the supraglottic area was sprayed with 10% lignocaine. Surgeons were gloved for an emergency backup tracheostomy. The lubricated stylet of a double-lumen tube was inserted into a straightened 5-mm internal diameter microlaryngeal surgery (MLS) tube followed by bending into a C-shaped curve conforming to the concavity of D-blade.

A check, awake D-blade laryngoscopy was performed to visualize the hemangioma and glottis (Fig. 1). In an anterior larynx [Cormack–Lehane grade IIb], only the posterior 10% comprising the arytenoids is visible. Contrarily, the anterior 10% glottis was visible in our patient, the remainder being obliterated by the hemangioma. After administering IV fentanyl (30 μg), anesthesia was deepened using 3% incremental sevoflurane maintaining spontaneous ventilation. The MLS tube was inserted with the concavity facing rightwards and rotated 90° anticlockwise once midway into the oral cavity to reach the barely visible chink of larynx above the tumor. The D-blade was withdrawn slightly, the BURP applied, the tumor pushed down by a suction catheter, the neck flexed by an assistant, and the trachea intubated. The stylet was withdrawn, and endotracheal placement capnographically confirmed. The deep and superficial cuffs were inflated with 2 ml saline and 3 ml methylene blue, respectively. Eyes were taped shut, and protective wet gauze and laser-proof goggles applied. Intravenous fentanyl (70 μg), propofol (60 mg), and atracurium (30 mg) were administered. Surgeons placed a wet oral pack (2 × 20 cm) around the tube. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane in medical air and 35% oxygen, IV fentanyl 30 μg, hydrocortisone 100 mg, and atracurium (10 + 5) mg. The laser excision lasted 75 min.

Fig. 1
figure 1

C Mac D-blade videolaryngoscopic view of the friable hemangioma and glottis.

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When surgery ended, the throat pack went missing. The D-blade was utilized to systematically scan the oral cavity including both pyriform sulci. The MLS tube was included with the tongue and pushed up with the D-blade to visualise the area beneath it. Thorough suctioning was done. Raw mucosa and the laserized hemangioma stump could be visualised but not the throat pack. Swab count did not tally, so drapes, floor, and wastebins were re-checked. Fluoroscopy was not an option since the throat pack was devoid of radio-opaque markings. With the D-blade in situ, a fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) was inserted through the glottic chink above the ETT to rule out subglottic migration of pack. The upper esophagus and nasopharynx were also fiberoptic bronchoscopically examined. After an hour of repeated exploration, the elusive pack was finally retrieved from the mid-esophagus by the gastroenterologist using a gastroscope. IV hydrocortisone 100 mg and dexamethasone 8 mg were administered. The oral laser tube was replaced with a 7-mm ID nasal ETT, patient shifted to postoperative ward on a T-piece and uneventfully extubated over a bougie after 2 h.

Discussion

Spontaneous respiration must never be ablated in difficult airway patients. Awake intubation and inhalational induction are good options. D-blade videolaryngoscope rescued us from this tricky situation where loss of airway tone would have caused complete airway obstruction by the pedunculated tumor plug. Any bleeding from handling the hemangioma could lead to catastrophic aspiration. Young ladies with non-malignant pathologies deserve a chance to avoid disfiguring tracheostomies with potential complications including tracheal stenosis. Hence, tracheostomy was kept as a backup plan and the trachea intubated videolaryngoscopically utilizing several skilful clinical maneuvers (Shah et al., 2016a; Shah et al., 2016b). We straightened the laser tube before introducing the long narrow stylet that accompanies double-lumen tubes (stylets are not supplied with laser tubes) to prevent damage to rings and facilitate D-blade guided oral intubation.

Since peripheral nerve stimulator guided atracurium was administered intraoperatively, the patient could not have voluntarily swallowed the oral pack (swab count was done before reversal of anesthesia). The possibility of the oral pack being pushed deeper into the esophagus by the FOB is highly unlikely owing to the limp nature of the scope. The pack might have been mistakenly placed partially into the esophagus by the surgeon owing to the obstruction of the line of vision by the massive hemangioma. It might have got pushed deeper by the suction catheter, instrumentation, pulsations of major vessels, and peristaltic movement.

Leaving the throat pack in situ could have caused intestinal obstruction besides possibilities of vomiting, aspiration, laryngospasm, and respiratory obstruction in the immediate postoperative period.

Leaving one end of the throat pack protruding externally, securing the throat pack to the artificial airway device, and sticking a label or mark on the patient’s forehead or ETT are various precautionary measures (Colbert et al., 2012; Knepil & Blackburn, 2008; Tsang et al., 2001). A documentation procedure should be implemented employing a designated person to record the time of insertion and removal of the throat pack on the white board and to include the throat pack in the swab count (Colbert et al., 2012; Knepil & Blackburn, 2008). We propose an algorithm for prevention of retained throat swabs in orofacial surgeries (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Algorithm for throat pack insertion and missing throat pack. PONV, postoperative nausea vomiting; FOB, fiberoptic bronchoscope

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Conclusion

With a massive growth obstructing vision, the throat pack can be misplaced. A high index of suspicion should exist for pack displacement into the esophagus if a thorough videolaryngoscopic scan of the oral cavity is negative. Hence, throat packs should be placed using D-blade. We present a useful algorithm and recommend the use of throat packs with a radio-opaque marking (Raytec gauze) to facilitate their radiographic identification in such rare situations.