Anaesthetic management of a patient with relapsing polychondritis undergoing laparoscopic surgery

We describe the anaesthetic management of a patient with relapsing polychondritis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We failed to secure a patent airway with a ProSeal(TM) laryngeal mask airway, probably because of the deformity of the larynx. The glottis was small and it was only possible to pass a 5.5 mm cuffed endotracheal tube into the trachea. Positive pressure ventilation with 5 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure and surgery were safely performed. In relapsing polychondritis, recurrent inflammation and destruction of laryngeal and tracheobronchial cartilage causes airway obstruction, and various sizes of tracheal tubes and other airway manipulation devices should be prepared.