Postextubation Airway Obstruction Due to Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in a Patient Posted for Distal end Radius Fracture: Anesthetic Challenge

Abstract It can be challenging to intubate patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy undergoing general anesthesia for any surgery. In these patients, the preoperative airway examination is essentially unremarkable. We report a case of 15-year-old male patient, diagnosed case of adenotonsillar hypertrophy posted for open reduction internal fixation of distal end radius fracture. Procedure was under general anesthesia. Intraoperative period was uneventful. Postoperatively, after extubation patient desaturated and needed reintubation. The patient was extubated after 20 min in the left lateral position and later shifted to intensive care unit for observation, thereafter the period was uneventful. Upper airway resistance and collapse are not a very well-known complication but its presence may cause of unexpected difficult airway and may lead to distressing symptoms in the postoperative period after general anesthesia and hence can be challenging. Anesthesiologist should be aware of such occurrences and meticulously employ the strategies to prevent this.