• Jung A Lim, Min Yeong Jeong, and Jong Hae Kim.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Dec 1; 98 (51): e18287.

RationaleAirway management of patients in a lateral decubitus position (LDP), who cannot lie supine is challenging for anesthesiologists. In a previous study, laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was found to be superior to conventional endotracheal intubation in LDP.Patient ConcernsA 38-year-old man diagnosed with type I neurofibromatosis presented with pain caused by a large hematoma (28 × 8 cm) located in the left upper back. On arrival at the operating theater, he was in a right LDP because of the aggravation of pain in the supine position.DiagnosesLaryngoscopy-guided endotracheal intubation was expected to be difficult in LDP.InterventionsAfter the induction of anesthesia, a non-inflatable LMA was introduced into the laryngopharynx with the patient in LDP. He was then maneuvered into a supine position and removal of the LMA was followed by endotracheal intubation.OutcomesThe surgery for the removal of the hematoma was performed in a prone position. The airway intubated with an endotracheal tube was well maintained during the entire surgery.LessonsLMA is a useful device for airway management in patients in LDP who cannot lie supine.

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