Awake hybrid intubation technique for managing anticipated difficult airway in a patient undergoing decompressive cervical laminectomy: A case report

Patients undergoing decompressive cervical laminectomy pose significant challenges for airway management due to anatomical considerations and potential difficulties in intubation. Traditional approaches may not suffice in ensuring safe and effective airway management in such cases. Here we present a case report on the successful management of an anticipated difficult airway with restricted neck movement in a 56-year-old male patient with C3-C6 extradural space-occupying lesion with C4 C5 extra foraminal extension undergoing decompressive laminectomy Awake Hybrid Intubation technique for Managing Anticipated Difficult Airway in a patient undergoing decompressive Cervical Laminectomy. A 3D-printed indigenously made video laryngoscope was used to view the glottis and a Flexible video bronchoscope loaded with an armoured reinforced tube was introduced orally which served as a guide for successful endotracheal tube placement in the first attempt without any adverse events. As an incidental finding, a mass of about 1x2cm was found just beneath the glottis with the aid of a bronchoscope, intubation was successfully done without traumatising the mass.