TOTAL AIRWAY-OBSTRUCTION BY PAPILLOMAS DURING INDUCTION OF GENERAL-ANESTHESIA

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is an increasingly common viral i nfection of children caused by the human papilloma virus (1). Progress ive formation of multiple papillomas in the respiratory tract requires surgical removal to prevent speech difficulties and respiratory compr omise. Patients are commonly diagnosed with change in voice or hoarsen ess prior to the development of severe respiratory compromise (2,3). W e present a case of complete airway obstruction during induction of ge neral anesthesia in which the usual signs of severe respiratory compro mise (including difficulty clearing secretions, sleep disturbances, de creased activity, and difficulty eating) were not present preoperative ly.