[Use of the intubating laryngeal mask for tracheal intubation in three patients with difficult airways].

The intubating laryngeal mask has a potential role for tracheal intubation in patients with difficult airways, but there have been only reports of the techniques of blind tracheal intubation through the intubating laryngeal mask. The success rate of blind intubation at the first attempt may be merely 50-60% even in patients with normal airways. We report the use of the intubating laryngeal mask for tracheal intubation in three patients with difficult airways, in whom a tube was easily inserted through the laryngeal mask into the trachea either blindly, using a fiberoptic bronchoscope or using a lighted stylet.