Anesthetic management of a patient with localised scleroderma

Scleroderma is a progressive fibrotic disorder of connective tissue which can present multiple anesthetic challenges to anesthetists, especially airway management. Awake intubation with fiberoptic bronchoscope is widely accepted and implemented for progressive systematic scleroderma patients. With the development and improvement of intubation devices these years, there is no report addressing other intubation methods for sclerotic patients.

A 47 year-old, 42-kg man with 1-year history of localized scleroderma was scheduled for the operation of inner fixation after 6 days of his acetabular fracture. With careful pre-anesthesia assessment, we chose general anesthesia and intubated the patient with Shikani optical stylet under rapid sequence introduction successfully.

Scleroderma is a multisystem disease that can affect every aspect of anesthesia especially airway management, which can pose a significant challenge for anesthesiologists. As a result, understanding its pathophysiological changes and implementing a meticulous pre-anesthesia check-up are essential when making an anesthetic plan.

Anesthetists should have a thorough consideration of all the patho-physiological changes in patients with scleroderma, so as to make a full preparation peri-operatively. Shikani optical stylet may become an alternation for difficult airway in patients with scleroderma.