ISSN: 2577-4301
Authors: Cristian IAH*, Tania SR, Adolfo PC, Verónica RV, Sandra RM and Horacio OM
The assessment and management of the difficult airway represents one of the primary topics addressed in anesthesiology. A number of recommendations regarding airway management have been issued by various associations. Awake intubation has been described as a viable option among patients with a predicted difficult airway, with possibilities for its achievement that include the use of fiber optics, for which experience is required. The use of the videolaryngoscope is another reported technique, which similarly requires a learning curve. In reported studies, the probability of failure is similar between both devices, despite the causes of failure differing from each other. Airway evaluation includes both clinical assessment and the support of imaging studies, such as tomography, magnetic resonance or ultrasound. Successful awake intubation is highly dependent on patient communication and adequate upper airway preparation. The following article describes four case reports outlining the management of awake intubation and emphasizing the importance of teaching tools for the improvement of the awake intubation technique.
Keywords: Video Laryngoscopy; Supraglottic; Topicalization; Dexmedetomidine; Laryngosuspension
