Awake fiberoptic intubation in a pediatric patient with cervical spine injuries on a halo-vest: a case report

Abstract

Awake fiberoptic intubation (AFOI) in pediatric patients remains a continuous challenge for the anesthetists, and is considered more cumbersome a procedure as compared to the adult population. The coexistence of unstable cervical spine injuries, although rare, but complicates the procedure even more. Proper pre-planning, adequate sedation and analgesia and the patient’s conscious cooperation are needed to ensure success. We describe a step-by-step approach to a successful AFOI in a 12-year-old child who had atlantooccipital instability and had a halo-vest on. Titrated dose of sedation and analgesia, obtunding airway reflex and patient’s cooperation is a key to successful AFOI in this patient.

Abbreviations: AFIO: Awake fiberoptic intubation; OMF: Oromaxillofacial; BMI: body mass index; TCI: Target-controlled infusion

Key words: Airway Management; Airway Obstruction / complications; Anesthesia / methods; Child; Dexmedetomidine, Intravenous infusion; Fiber Optic Technology; Intubation, Intratracheal / methods; Laryngoscopes; Pediatric

Citation: Hassan MH. Awake fiberoptic intubation in a pediatric patient with cervical spine injuries on a halo-vest: a case report. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;26(4):569-573; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v26i4.1968

Received: April 30, 2022; Reviewed: May 01, 2022; Accepted: June 28, 2022