LOCALANAESTESIA FOR AWAKE FIBEROPTIC INTUBATION: A COMPARISON OF TWO TECHNIQUES- AIRWAY NERVE BLOCKS VS 'SPRAY AS YOU GO' TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Background- Awake fiberoptic intubation is the recommended technique for anticipated difficult airway management which requires effective local anesthesia for patient's comfort and co-operation. In this study, we compared airway nerve blocks and “Spray as you go” technique for awake fiberoptic intubation in difficult airway patients. Method- Sixty adult patients with an anticipated difficult airway with Mallampati Class III and IV were selected and randomized into two groups for awake fiberoptic intubation. Each group receiving lignocaine as a local anesthetic with either of two different methods. Group A (n=30) via airway nerve blocks using transtracheal and superior laryngeal nerve block; and group B (n=30) via intubating fiberscope using ‘spray as you go’ technique. We compared two groups using the Number of attempts for intubation, Intubation time, Intubating conditions, Cough count, Hemodynamic response, Severity scale [patients comfort], and the additional required dose of lignocaine used. Descriptive statistics were done for all data. p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The result- we found that airway nerve blocks provide better local anesthesia by providing good intubating conditions with less cough count, less intubation time, and better hemodynamic stability as compare to spray as you go group. None of the patients showed any evidence of lignocaine toxicity. But an additional dose of lignocaine used was significantly more number of patients in the spray as you go, group. However patient comfort and acceptance is equal in both groups as patient severity score was the same in both groups and all patients got successfully intubated in both the groups Conclusion- airway nerve block technique of local anesthesia is better than spray as you go method however spray as you go technique can be used in cases where airway blocks are not possible.