Successful nasotracheal intubation with surgical incision and video laryngoscope in a patient with anticipated difficult intubation due to limited mouth opening: A case report

Abstract

Difficult ventilation and intubation in anaesthesia are highly complex and challenging for the anaesthetist. We aim to present a case of successful nasotracheal intubation with surgical incision and video laryngoscope in a patient with anticipated difficult ventilation and intubation due to a limited mouth opening. A patient was an 81-year-old female scheduled for oral surgery for lip cancer. The patient’s American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical classification was class III, and the oral airway was assessed as a Mallampati Class IV. A comprehensive preoperative evaluation of the patient revealed limited mouth opening (distance between incisors 1cm) and multiple decayed and broken teeth. A 2cm surgical incision of the skin was performed by plastic surgery under local anaesthesia and sedation without general anaesthesia. A high-flow nasal cannula (HFNO) was used for preoxygenation and to prevent desaturation during a difficult intubation. The oral cavity was topicalised with 2% lidocaine, and after the topical nasal vasoconstrictor to the nasal cavity, we selected a 7.0mm nasal flexible endotracheal tube (ETT). We inserted it into the right nostril with a video laryngoscope under local anaesthesia and sedation without general anaesthesia, and then, the patient’s nasotracheal intubation was successfully performed. A multidisciplinary team approach to airway management should include all participants in planned patient care in the operating room, intensive care unit (ICU), post-anaesthesia care unit, or ward.