Fiberoptic intubation in patient who have had unilateral radical maxillectomy - A case report

Herein, we describe a case of airway management that was expected to be difficult due to previous radical maxillectomy surgery. A 68-year-old man was scheduled for maxillary defect reconstructive surgery. He had undergone left radical maxillectomy the previous year; therefore, he had no teeth, palate, or maxilla bone on his left side. We performed rapid sequence induction using a fiberoptic bronchoscopy under general anesthesia, considering the impossibility of mask ventilation, the defect of the upper airway, and the patient's medical illness. Tracheal intubation was very smooth. Although the airway management devices available and the conditions at each center will vary, using fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a valid first option in cases similar to the current case.