Ultrasound-guided sphenopalatine ganglion block for effective analgesia during awake fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation: A case report

BACKGROUND Awake fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation(AFNI)is the preferred airway ma-nagement strategy for patients with difficult airways.However,this procedure can cause significant physical and psychological distress.This case report explores the application of a sphenopalatine ganglion(SPG)block as an alternative anal-gesic modality to mitigate the discomfort associated with AFNI.CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old female with a history of right maxillary osteosarcoma underwent craniotomy for a suspected malignant brain lesion.The patient’s medical history included prior surgery,chemotherapy,and radiation therapy,resulting in signi-ficant jaw impairment and limited neck mobility.Considering the anticipated air-way challenges,AFNI was planned.A SPG block was performed under real-time ultrasound guidance,providing effective analgesia during nasotracheal intuba-tion.CONCLUSION The SPG block represents a promising analgesic approach in AFNI,offering po-tential benefits in alleviating pain involving the nasal and nasopharyngeal regions as well as improving patient cooperation.

Use of McGrath^(■) MAC Video Laryngoscope for Nasotracheal Intubation in Patients for Whom Intubation Was Expected to Be Difficult Due to the Limited Mouth Opening

McGrath? MAC video laryngoscope (McG) has been used for orotracheal intubation in both normal patients and patients for whom intubation was expected to be difficult, and has been reported to provide improved visibility of the glottis during tracheal intubation. There are some reports that normal nasotracheal intubation is easier with McG than with macintosh laryngoscope (ML). The usefulness of McG for nasotracheal intubation is beginning to be recognised. We experienced three cases using McG in patients for whom intubation was expected to be difficult due to the limited mouth opening and using McG for those patients enabled smooth nasotracheal intubation. McG provides good visual field during nasotracheal intubation, and is less invasive to the patient.

A Simple Technique to Improve Standard Nasotracheal Intubation

NTI is included in the ASA difficult airway algorithm. However, even with the assistance of a Magill forceps, it might be difficult to place the endotracheal (ET) tube in the trachea because of the angle at which the tube approaches the glottis opening and the inability to bend the tube secondary to the ET-tubes compliance. By placing a soft suction catheter thru the ET-tube, and placing the suction catheter into the trachea first and sliding the tube over the catheter this problem can be avoided. In addition, grabbing the suction catheter rather than the ET-tube, also prevents the rupturing of the ET-tube balloon by the Magill forceps.

Circulatory responses to nasotracheal intubation： comparison of GlideScope videolaryngoscope and Macintosh direct laryngoscope

Background The GlideScope videolaryngoscope （GSVL） has been shown to have no special advantage over the Macintosh direct laryngoscope （MDL） in attenuating the circulatory responses to orotracheal intubation, but no study has compared the circulatory responses to nasotracheal intubation （NTI） using the two devices. This prospective randomized clinical study was designed to determine whether there was a clinically relevant difference between the circulatory responses to NTI with the GSVL and the MDL. Methods Seventy-six adult patients were randomly allocated equally to the GSVL group and the MDL group. After induction of anesthesia, NTI was performed. Non-invasive blood pressure （BP） and heart rate （HR） were recorded before induction （baseline values） and immediately before intubation （post-induction values）, at intubation and every minute for a further five minutes. During the observation, times required to reach the maximum values of systolic BP （SBP） and HR, times required for recovery of SBP and HR to postinduction values and incidence of SBP and HR percent changes 〉 30% of baseline values were also noted. The product of HR and systolic BP, i.e. rate pressure product （RPP）, and the areas under SBP and HR vs. time curves （AUGsBP and AUGHR） were calculated. Results The NTI with the GSVL resulted in significant increases in BP, HR and RPP compared to postinduction values, but these circulatory changes did not exceed baseline values. BPs at all measuring points, AUGSBP, maximum values of BP and incidence of SBP percent increase 〉 30% of baseline value during the observation did not differ significantly between groups. However, HR and RPP at intubation and their maximum values, AUGHR and incidence of HR percent increase 〉 30% of baseline value were significantly higher in the MDL group than in the GSVL group. Times required for recovery of SBP and HR to postinduction values were significantly longer in the MDL group than in the GSVL group. Conclusions The pressor response to NTI with the GSVL and the MDL was similar, but the tachycardiac response to NTI was lesser and of a shorter duration when using a GSVL than when using an MDL.

A Safer Technique for Nasal Intubation: A Literature Review

Nasotracheal intubation (NTI) is the most widely used method to establish an airway during anesthesia for oral surgery. It has the advantage of providing exceptional accessibility and optimal working conditions in the oral cavity for surgeons. Anesthesia providers are highly trained in managing and securing the airway. Because the oral intubation route is the most widely used technique for securing the airway, nasal intubation can be cumbersome for anesthetists who do not routinely perform this skill. Moreover, anesthesia providers who do not routinely perform NTI may feel apprehension out of concern for nasopharyngeal bleeding and trauma. The number of dental and oromaxillofacial procedures requiring nasal intubation has been steadily growing annually. Although NTI is generally safe, it still presents a risk for complications. The purpose of this literature review was to examine current literature and evidence-based practices of NTI to determine whether the use of a catheter-guided technique will improve patient care outcomes by way of decreased trauma to the airway compared to current clinical practices. The goal of this review is to recommend the use of a catheter-guided technique for NTI as the preferred method for securing the airway during oral surgery as it is less traumatizing to the airway than conventional methods.

USE OF A BLIND INTUBATION DEVICE FOR NASOTRA-CHEAL INTUBATION IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT ANKYLOSIS

Objective To evaluate light-guided tracheal intubation using blind intubation device (BID) in adult patients with temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Methods Twenty adult patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, with temporomandibular joint ankylosis were selected for awake blind nasal intubation. The patients were prepared with nasal decongestants and inhaled 100% oxygen for 3min, then fentanyl (2μg/kg) and midazolam (1-5 mg) were intravenously injected for sedation. Topical anaesthesia for the glottis was performed by using cricothyroid injection of local anaesthesia. A blind intubation device was used to help blind nasal intubation. Three attempts of blind nasal intubation were permitted, otherwise, fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) intubation was utilized considering the failure of blind intubation. During the procedure, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured. Results Nineteen patients successfully underwent blind nasal intubation by BID. The success ratio for first attempt was only 65.0%, while it reached 95.0% for three attempts. Light-guided catheter failed to be inserted for three attempts in only one patient. However, FOB was successfully used for the first attempt by the same anaesthetist. Conclusion Light-guided tracheal intubation by using blind intubation device is a safe and effective method for blind nasal intubation in the patients with temporomandibular joint ankylosis.