Translaryngeal guided intubation solved a critical airway problem

Abstract

Airway obstruction during the induction of general anesthesia remains a persistent problem in modern anesthesia practice, particularly in obstetric patients. Generally, a careful preoperative airway evaluation uncovers most abnormalities that might make intubation difficult. The planning and preparation for additional intubation equipment facilitate an anticipated difficult intubation. However, situations may arise in which unanticipated airway obstruction occurs requiring prompt management. Although every anesthesia provider is trained to manage such acute airway problems, the provision of a patent airway is not always possible, particularly when repeated attempts at endoscopic or blind intubation have failed, leaving a bloody field that prevents optimal visualization, or when time does not allow to wake up the patient. In this article a difficult airway problem is reported in which translaryngeal guided intubation was lifesaving.