Postoperative lingual nerve injury following airway management: A literature review

Abstract

Postoperative lingual nerve injury is a rare but serious complication following airway management and can lead to significant discomfort and disability. This literature review explores the aetiology, clinical presentation, management strategies and potential preventive measures for lingual nerve injuries associated with airway management during surgery. A search of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE Science Direct, Cochrane library and Web of Science databases was done since inception to January 2024, including any observational studies and clinical trials describing patients diagnosed with lingual nerve injury following airway instrumentation. Multiple risk factors for lingual nerve injury were identified. Anaesthesia factors include difficulty with intubation and use of laryngeal mask airway. Surgical factors are long duration of operation and surgery of the head and neck. Patient factor includes female sex. Anaesthetists should proactively inform patients about the potential for this nerve injury and control modifiable risk factors to mitigate the risk of injury.