[The use of the laryngeal mask in a female patient with an unpredictable difficult intubation].

A laryngeal mask was used after repeated ineffective attempts at intubation. Preoperative examinations failed to defect signs of a possible difficult intubation. Laryngoscopy showed a true glottis, but it was impossible to insert tube No. 6 in the trachea. Failure of attempts at intubation made us use a laryngeal mask for maintaining the patency of the upper airways. Anesthesia coursed smoothly in the presence of stable hemodynamics and gas exchange. Use of laryngeal mask helped solve the problem of unpredictable difficult intubation and provide reliable patency of the upper respiratory airways in a female patient with latent stenosis of the subglottal space.