Airway management in vascular central airway obstruction: a literature review

Abstract

Vascular central airway obstruction (CAO) is a rare cause of upper airway obstruction in adults. CAO occurs below the level where it is invisible in a laryngoscope. Doctors therefore should pay attention to the possibilities of vascular CAO when attempting to prevent and resolve catastrophic complications from upper airway obstruction such as cardiorespiratory collapse and hemoptysis, which requires a thoughtful preoperative planning of airway management before starting a surgical reconstruction.