Airway Management in an Anatomically and Physiologically Difficult Airway

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Difficult airways present significant challenges during general anesthesia induction.
• Awake intubation is a traditional approach for managing anticipated difficult airways.
• Anatomical and physiological abnormalities increase airway management complexity.

Observation:

• A case involving a patient with both a laryngeal mass (anatomical) and pulmonary hypertension (physiologic) was encountered.
• This patient presented a complex scenario for airway management.

Findings:

• An awake intubation was successfully performed in a single attempt.
• The procedure maintained adequate oxygenation, airway patency, and spontaneous breathing.
• This highlights the feasibility of awake intubation in complex cases.

Implications:

• Patient physiological status is crucial in difficult airway management planning.
• Awake intubation can be a safe and effective strategy for complex airways.
• This case underscores the importance of individualized airway management strategies.