Topicalisation of airway for awake fibre-optic intubation: Walking on thin ice

摘要

Topicalisation of the airway by various techniques has routinely been recommended for awake fibre-optic bronchoscopy in cases of difficult airway. However, topicalisation by itself can cause airway obstruction by decreasing the tone of the laryngeal muscles and causing a dynamic air inflow obstruction. Two cases of difficult airway are illustrated where anaesthetising upper airway with nebulisation with 4% lignocaine (Xylocaine?) or 2% lignocaine (Xylocaine?) jelly resulted in stridor and upper airway obstruction. This is the first reported case of airway obstruction after lignocaine (Xylocaine?) jelly. We would like to highlight that topicalisation of airway, once thought as a relatively safe technique, can cause airway collapse if not detected and anticipated at the earliest. Pre-operative spirometry and airway ultrasonography can be useful in detecting the patients at risk of developing airway obstruction. Using a nasopharyngeal airway during topicalisation can serve as a valuable device in preventing total airway obstruction in susceptible patients.