[Preoxygenation by high-flow nasal cannula in a patient with difficult ventilation and intubation criteria]

The different protocols and algorithms for difficult intubation highlight the need for early detection of patients at risk of ventilation and difficult intubation. These protocols allow an adaptation of the management and all conclude that an emergency trans-tracheal approach is necessary in case of impossible intubation. In this context, the prevention of hypoxemia must be a major concern of any anaesthetic management. Indeed, in case of an impossible orotracheal intubation, the occurrence of hypoxemia is directly correlated to the duration of apnea. Classically, preoxygenation maneuvers can significantly increase the duration of apnea without hypoxemia. Furthermore, apneic oxygenation maneuvers may be added in case of impossible ventilation but permeable laryngeal passage. This article reports on a patient with difficult intubation and ventilation criteria who benefitted from preoxygenation associated with apneic oxygenation via high flow nasal cannula.