Challenges of Emergency Low-Skill Fibreoptic Intubation in Airway Obstruction by a Neck Haematoma After the Sistrunk Procedure

Abstract

Anterior neck haematoma is a rare but potentially fatal emergency due to airway obstruction after a surgical intervention of the neck. Complete airway obstruction can be rapid and deteriorate exponentially. In a patient with a previously normal laryngeal view during his Sistrunk procedure, we describe the challenges and considerations faced in his second surgery for the evacuation of neck haematoma, which involved an unanticipated difficult airway after rapid sequence induction, necessitating rescue measures using low-skill fibreoptic intubation (LSFOI).

Keywords: difficult airway management; laryngeal mask airway (lma); low-skill fibreoptic intubation; neck haematoma; sistrunk procedure.