BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine versus remifentanil for sedation during awake intubation using a Shikani optical stylet (SOS). METHODS Sixty-eight patients with cervical trauma or severe cervical spondylosis undergoing cervical spinal surgery were enrolled in this prospective study. They were randomly assigned to receive dexmedeto...

EDITOR: We read with interest the letter by Slater and Bhatia [1] and would like to congratulate them on their successful management. We agree that the safest approach for their patient would have been an awake fibreoptic intubation. However, we would like to make a few comments. From the history and picture, it is not clear whether the patient had a prosthesis fitted into the left orbital cavi...

Advanced Bechterew's disease presents with increasing ossification of spinal column, from lower lumbar segments upwards, first causing impossibility to place spinal block in lumbar region, and later, due to stiffness of cervical spine, difficult intubation because of inability to extend and/or flex the neck during direct laryngoscopy and intubation. Mask ventilation, on the other hand, usually ...

Awake flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope aided intubation (AFOBI) has revolutionized the ability of the anesthesia provider to safely care for difficult airway management and help prevent associated adverse side effects while dealing with a difficult airway like arterial hypoxemia, hypoventilation, aspiration. The flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) is presently a critical tool available in sc...