[Successful double-lumen tube insertion using Pentax-AWS Airwayscope with an infant-sized intlock in a rheumatoid arthritis patient with restricted mouth opening and head tilting].

Successful tracheal intubation with a double-lumen tube was achieved using Pentax-AWS Airwayscope (AWS) with an infant-size Intlock in a patient with restricted mouth opening and head tilting. A 78-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was scheduled for extended thymectomy under general anesthesia, with anticipated difficult airway. Sufficient mask ventilation with the jaw-thrust maneuver was achieved. The laryngoscopic view was defined as grade III (Cormack & Lehane's classification)with Macintosh laryngoscope. The AWS with an infant-size Intlock facilitated visualization of the glottis, leading to a successful placement of a 32-Fr double-lumen tube under the guidance of the AWS image. Double-lumen tube insertion assisted by the AWS with an infant-size Intlock may be useful for difficult airway management in patients with restricted mouth opening and head tilting.