Anaesthesia for maxillofacial surgery

Maxillofacial surgeons are responsible for the operative management of oromaxillofacial cancer, facial trauma, facial and dental infections, craniofacial deformities, orthognathic conditions and temporomandib-ular joint dysfunction. Airway management for these patients can be challenging for the anaesthetist. This article focuses upon key aspects of airway assessment and the development of a comprehensive un-derstanding of the management of these complex patients, including recognizing impending airway compromise, advanced airway skills, rescue techniques and planning for tracheal extubation. The funda-mental aspects involved in the clinical management of common maxil-lofacial surgical presentations are described, with reference to the most recent evidence and clinical guidelines.