Preoperative airway evaluation using multi-slice three-dimensional computed tomography for a patient with severe tracheal stenosis

A 71-yr-old female with a malignant thyroid tumour was to undergothyroidectomy under general anaesthesia. Preoperative chestx-ray and plain computed tomography (CT) showed severe trachealstenosis. Three-dimensional figures of the trachea and a virtualbronchoscopic movie were obtained from multi-slice CT to evaluatethe stenotic region and to simulate fibroscopic tracheal intubation,respectively. After induction of general anaesthesia with propofol,a tracheal tube was successfully passed through the stenoticregion under the guide of a fibroscope as simulated in the virtualmovie. We conclude that multi-slice CT is useful for preoperativeairway evaluation for patients with stenosis and distortionof the trachea.