Difficult mask ventilation in 5-year-old due to submental hypertrophic scar: a case report

Airway evaluation and management are of critical importance to providing safe and effective anesthesia. Burn injuries in and around the airway are of particular concern to anesthesia providers. The following is a case report of a 5-year-old patient who had neck contractures and a large hypertrophic scar on his chin secondary to a burn injury. The patient initially was easy to mask ventilate, but ventilation became difficult when muscle relaxants were given and positive-pressure ventilation was attempted. An alteration of conventional hand placement during mask ventilation enabled the anesthesia provider to maintain a patent airway and the surgical procedure to proceed.