A Giant Granuloma of the Vocal Process after Double-Lumen Bronchial Catheter Insertion: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Double-lumen endotracheal (DLT) is commonly used for one-lung ventilation and lung separation during thoracic surgery. There are case reports of medically induced laryngeal granulomas, mainly in patients after single-lumen endotracheal (SLT) tube intubation and tracheotomy, and giant granulomas of the vocal cords due to double-lumen bronchial tube insertion have rarely been reported. Case presentation: A 49-year-old female patient underwent single-port thoracoscopy after DLT intubation as well as a wedge resection of the lower lobe of the left lung, which caused giant vocal process granulomas (VPGs) postoperatively. Based on a retrospective analysis of the general condition, current medical history, past medical history, and visual laryngoscopic observation of the vocal folds tissue, which ruled out preoperative vocal fold granuloma formation, we hypothesized that double-lumen bronchial catheter intubation may have been the primary cause of her vocal fold granuloma formation. Conclusions: Giant granuloma of the vocal folds after DLT insertion is a rare postoperative complication; therefore, if DLT intubation is to be performed, the anesthesiologist should choose an appropriate intubation plan and deal with it promptly to avoid the risk factors to ensure that the patient’s perioperative period is safe and smooth. In addition, if postoperative complications are encountered, they should be followed up and observed on time.