Regional & Topical Anaesthesia of Upper Airways

SUMMARY: A combination of techniques are required to adequately anaesthetise upper airway structures for awake intubation. The widest coverage is provided by the inhalational technique. This technique, however, does not always provide a dense enough level of anaesthesia for all patients. Supplementation of this technique with any of the specific nerve blocks is an excellent way to accomplish efficacious anaesthesia for awake inubation. Anaesthetising upper airway is not a difficult skill to master and should be in the armamentarium of all practising anaesthetist.