An impaled neck. Management of difficult airway access

We describe the management of a patient impaled through the lower submandibular area by the top spike of some iron railings which immobilised his jaw and blocked access to the trachea. The Fire Brigade used specialised equipment to cut out a section of the railings so that the patient could be transported to hospital. Awake fibreoptic intubation was used to gain access to the patient's airway before induction of anaesthesia.