Ameloblastomas are rare tumors that arises from the odontogenic epithelium. Although benign and slow growing, an extensive lesion may cause airway obstruction, making bag-mask ventilation intubation a significant challenge. Here, we present 54-year-old male in respiratory distress with 18x15x13 cm submandibular mass causing compromise. The tumor was extensive, occupying most of oral cavity. Una...

A 23-year-old male patient with occipitocervical fixator was scheduled for surgery due to injury to the right forearm. The patient's thyromental distance was 5 cm, mouth opening grade II, sternomental distance 10 cm and Mallampati score 4. Loss of extension and rotation movements of the head was assessed as difficult intubation criteria. Anaesthetic procedures are almost always difficult in pat...

We report a series of successful awake fiberoptic intubations in patients with critical (unstable, difficult) airways using the alpha(2)-agonist, dexmedetomidine. Dexmedetomidine has several desirable pharmacologic properties, including sedation, anxiolysis, hypnosis, analgesia, amnesia, antisialagogue effects, and a unique respiratory-sparing effect. Dexmedetomidine appears to be a useful agen...

Three cases of trismus caused by oropharyngeal sepsis are described where fibreoptic-assisted awake intubation using an oral airway intubator and nebulised lidocaine was safely and successfully achieved.

Endotracheal intubation in the ICU is a high-risk procedure, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Up to 40% of cases are associated with marked hypoxemia or hypotension. The ICU patient is physiologically very different from the usual patient who undergoes intubation in the operating room, and different intubation techniques should be considered. The common operating room practice ...