Abstract

Patients with head and neck cancer can undergo several surgical operations varying from local excision to radical dissection. These operations may cause changes in the anatomy of the airway. Difficult airway is a multifactorial condition that is affected by anatomical features of the patient, clinical conditions and experiences and skills of the physician leading the airway management. Difficult airway is encountered more frequently in elderly patients and in case of distorted airway anatomy due to reasons like head and neck surgery or trauma. The aim of this case report is to share our experience on awake fiberoptic intubation in a 71-year-old female patient with maxillary sinus tumor with distorted airway anatomy due to multiple head and neck surgeries. When the patient compliance is achieved, awake fiberoptic intubation technique is an alternative method which has high success rate without destroying patient comfort.

Key words: Difficult airway, awake fiberoptic intubation, elderly patient