Published online Dec 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i34.12690
Peer-review started: July 21, 2022
First decision: October 12, 2022
Revised: October 22, 2022
Accepted: November 4, 2022
Article in press: November 4, 2022
Published online: December 6, 2022
Processing time: 134 Days and 1.6 Hours
Most case reports on laryngeal granuloma formation have described patients after tracheotomy and single-lumen endotracheal intubation. Few studies have investigated vocal cord granuloma formation after double-lumen endotracheal (DLT) intubation.
We report granulation tissue formation on the bilateral vocal cords after DLT intubation in a 45-year-old, 153-cm-tall female patient. Previous imaging reports showed no formation of vocal cord granuloma before DLT intubation. Therefore, we inferred that DLT intubation may have been the main reason for the postoperative granulation tissue formation on her bilateral vocal cords, based on the patient’s history of DLT intubation, persistent hoarseness after thoracic surgery, and fibrolaryngoscopic and pathological reports during 12 mo follow-up.
Thirty-two Fr DLT tubes should be utilized for thoracic surgery on female patients who are shorter than 153 cm in height.
Core Tip: Most case reports on laryngeal granuloma formation have been reported on patients after tracheotomy and single-lumen endotracheal intubation. Few studies have investigated vocal cord granuloma formation after double-lumen endotracheal (DLT) intubation. We reported a case of a 45-year-old woman with granulation tissue formation of the bilateral vocal cords after lobectomy with DLT. We found that a 32 Fr DLT tube should be selected for thoracic surgery for female patients below 153 cm in height. This study is intended to act as a reference for those seeking to identify people at a high risk of developing airway granulomas and lower the frequency of such complications.