Anesthesia challenge in dental abscess induced trismus: a case report.

Trismus is the inability to normally open the mouth. Inflammation of soft tissue around impacted third molar tooth is the most common cause of trismus. Other causes include tetanus, inflammation of muscles of mastication, peritonsillar abscess, temporomandibular joint disorders, as a temporary side effect of many stimulants of the sympathetic nervous system and some recreational drugs. Trismus is an anesthetic challenge particularly for airway management. If general anesthesia is induced, difficult ventilation and/or intubation may lead to morbidity or mortality 1-5. We present the case of a patient with a trismus who was in need of incision and drainage and tooth extraction. The case report has been approved for publication from the IRB (HMC, DOHA, QATAR).