Lingual Nerve Injury: a complication associated with the classic laryngeal mask airway?

Cranial nerve injuries are well-recognized complications of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation and face mask ventilation. Recently, these have also been reported in association with extraglottic airway devices. Its diagnosis is clinical and it has a good prognosis, with resolution of the symptoms within a few weeks to months. The frequency of cranial nerve injuries can be reduced by avoiding insertion trauma, using appropriate sizes, minimizing cuff volume, and early identification and correction of malposition. We present a case of lingual nerve injury that was associated with use of the classic laryngeal mask airway during bilateral varicose vein stripping and perforator ligation under general, balanced anesthesia.