Securing the Airway– Awake Intubation in a Patient with Earlier Radical Neck Disection – Case Report
Abstract:
We present a case of management of a difficult airway in a patient with a history of radical neck dissection. The patient underwent a surgical procedure of percutaneous stabilization of the L1 vertebra due to a fracture. Following clini cal examination, suspicion of a difficult airway was raised, and management was conducted in accordance with the current guidelines of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the Difficult Airway Society (DAS). Prior to induction of anesthesia, adequate preparation for an awake intubation was performed. In this patient, awake intu bation was successfully performed according to established guidelines. Following airway securing, the patient was induced into general balanced anesthesia, and the planned surgical procedure was carried out. Awake intubation is a procedure that should become the gold standard for the management of a difficult airway in patients with a justified suspicion of airway difficulty. It represents a crucial skill that requires continuous training, particularly in elective surgical settings, to ensure appropriate and effective management in emergency airway situations.
