Difficult Airway Management of a Patient With Sturge-Weber Syndrome: A Case Report

Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by vascular malformations of the brain, eyes, and face, which can lead to difficult airway management. A 57-year-old man with Sturge-Weber syndrome presented with an oral hemangioma. Preoperative assessment, including computed tomography, raised concerns about anticipated difficult mask ventilation and tracheal intubation. Based on these findings, awake intubation was planned. After sedation and topical anesthesia, a video laryngoscope was used to visualize the glottis, and the trachea was successfully intubated. General anesthesia was subsequently induced and maintained, and the surgery proceeded without complications. The patient was extubated after confirmation of the absence of oral bleeding or other airway abnormalities. Careful preoperative airway assessment is important in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome. Awake intubation using a video laryngoscope may be an appropriate option for adult patients with anticipated difficult mask ventilation and tracheal intubation secondary to hemangiomas.