Clinical Study on Fiberoptic Awake Intubation and Self Pronation in Cervical Spine Disease Patients

Oh, Yong Seok; Kim, Jong Won; Do, Sang Whan; Lee, Kook Hyun; Yum, Kwang Won

Abstract

In cervical spine disease patients, the authors performed awake intubation with a flexible fiberscope under local anesthetic preparation to avoid insult to the cervical spine during intubation, and had patients self pronate for positioning to prevent possible complications durings the turning from cart to operating table. We performed this method in 25patients(age15-68 years,19male female6). For oral anesthesia we used 15-20cc of 4% lidocaine in a divided dose. We injected 2 cc of 2% lidocaine for each superior laryngeal nerve block and injected 4-6 cc of 2 to 4% lidocaine through the cricothyroid membrane for transtracheal nerve block with a 22-gauge intravenous catheter. It took 5-10 minutes in 23 patients and over 10 minutes in 2 patients for local anesthetic preparation. It took less than 1 minute in 15 patients, 1-4 minutes in 6 patients and more than 4 minutes in 4 patients for fiberoptic awake intubation. We observed vocal cord movement in 6 patients and blood clot in the trachea in 7 patients. Seventeen patients did pronate without help, 5 patients needed some help and 3 patients needed full support. Among the 3 patients who needed full support, 2 patients were in a halo traction state and one was in deep sedation. Ten patients complained of pain or discomfort during intubation. This complaint may be related which the time taken for intubation and inadequate local anesthesia. There were no complications related to positioning. We concluded that fiberoptic awake intubation and self pronation for positioning is a safe and useful method for anesthetic mnagement in cervical spine disease patients.