Difficult intubation in critical patient: how can we manage it? a case report

Abstract

Difficult airway management represents a challenge. Guidelines recommend choosing the airway technique based on physicians’ skills, equipment, available devices and context.

A man with acute respiratory failure needed an emergent intubation. He was obese with Mallampati score 4, Cormack-Lehane grading 4, macroglossia, reduced mouth opening, stocky and wide neck, and deviated laryngo-tracheal axis due to expanding neck hematoma. After endotracheal intubation failure, the anesthetist placed a second-generation laryngeal mask airway and started ventilation. In the next step, definite airway was provided by an endotracheal tube placed through the mask under flexible fiberscope vision.

Supraglottic airway devices are recommended in cases of unanticipated difficult intubation after endotracheal intubation failure. They are used to ensure satisfactory oxygenation and occasionally to guide the endotracheal tube. Fiberscope is useful to ensure vision of larynx and trachea in these scenarios. This is a unique case of emergency and difficult airway management using this combined approach.