Difficult airway management in patients with laryngeal tumor: Case series and systematic review

Airway management in patients with laryngeal tumor presents significant challenges and risks. SEEK^flex (Safe Easy Endotracheal Kit-flexible) is a modified introducer developed by our team for the intubation in severe COVID-19 patients. Here, we present 4 cases where SEEK^flex facilitated tracheal intubation in patients with laryngeal tumors underwent surgeries and achieved a definitive airway. A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases was also performed using the keywords such as "laryngeal tumor", "airway management" and "anesthesia" to identify the reports on airway management techniques for patients with laryngeal tumors. 14 papers involving 17 patients were retrieved. All the cases reported positive patient outcomes, though there were instances of intubation failure after general anesthesia. Despite increased availability of basic airway management techniques and various types of intubation tools, challenges persist, especially in patients with pre-existing severe airway obstruction. SEEK^flex provides a simple and rapid solution for intubating patients with laryngeal tumors, which ensures a clear airway for patient safety.