NOVEL TECHNIQUES FOR DIFFICULT AIRWAY MANAGEMENT IN VARIOUS CLINICAL SCENARIOS: CASE SERIES AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Abstract

Difficult airway management has till date been the most fearsome and challenging part of any anaesthetic management. Meticulous planning is always done prior to anaesthetic induction of such patients with multiple back up plans and rescue strategy. Significant advancements in terms of clinical protocols, techniques, and devices / gadgets in this field have led to decreased incidence of airway related complications. We hereby present a case series of 3 clinical cases with different airway scenarios; 1) Patient with huge goiter, who was intubated with the help of an indigenously developed fish mouth valve device, 2) a temporomandibular joint ankylosis case, managed with awake fibreoptic guided intubation 3) Patient with post burn contracture of face and neck, in which fibreoptic intubation was performed after partial release of scar under tumescent anaesthesia. Extensive preoperative airway evaluation and preparation to handle any emergency by multiple backup plans always helps in smooth sailing through these difficult clinical scenarios