[Effective use of laryngeal mask airway to stop a supraglottic air leak which prevented adequate ventilation via a tracheostomy in a pediatric patient].

[22q11.2 deletion syndrome]

We report a case of ventilation failure due to supraglottic air leakage with the use of uncuffed tracheotomy tube . A 4 -year -old girl with 22 q 11 .2 deletion syndrome after tracheotomy due to tracheomalacia developed left caudate bleeding and was admitted urgently . She required mechanical ventilation but suffered from a supraglottic air leakage which prevented adequate ventilation via a tracheostomy site . To stop the supraglottic air leakage , a size 1 .5 laryngeal mask airway (LMA ) was inserted into the oral pharynx and the cuff was inflated . The supraglottic air leakage was not detected under mandatory mechanical ventilation following seal of the connector of the LMA with a piece of tape . The respiratory condition of the patient improved gradually . The use of an LMA may be useful to stop or significantly decrease the air leak .