Laryngospasm

Laryngospasm is most commonly caused by an irritative stimulus to the airway during a light plane of anesthesia. Common noxious airway stimuli that may elicit this reflex include secretions, vomitus, blood, inhalation of pungent volatile anesthetics, oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway placement, laryngoscopy, painful peripheral stimuli, and peritoneal traction during light anesthesia. Laryngospasm can also result from sudden administration of high doses of synthetic narcotics (e.g., fentanyl) during induction of anesthesia.