Pre-shaped supraglottic airway devices offer an alternative to endotracheal intubation for airway management of postburn neck contracture: A case series

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Moderate to severe postburn contractures (PBCs) of the neck lead to multiple areas of difficulty in airway management. Awake flexible fiberscope guided intubation with cuffed endotracheal tube (ETT) is considered the “gold standard” for securing the airway in these cases. Supraglottic airway devices (SADs), if at all used, are used either as rescue devices or as conduits for ETT. This case series looks at the possibility of using SADs as a planned airway securing device in these cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We managed 24 cases of moderate to severe PBC neck using six types of pre shaped SADs as the first choice airway device. These SADs were placed after either airway topicalization (19 cases) or general anesthesia (GA) (5 cases). Once SAD placement was confirmed, all the patients received GA and muscle relaxant. Tests for proper placement and function and fiberscopy (conducted in four cases) were performed at various times during the procedure. The SADs were removed once the patients were fully awake. RESULTS: SADs could be placed in one attempt in all the cases. The time taken to hand over the patients to surgeons was 12–20 min. SADs maintained their proper placement and function in spite of changing airway dimensions during contracture release. The patients tolerated the SADs well right until the time they were fully awake. The SADs could be successfully removed on the operation table in all the cases. CONCLUSION: Pre shaped SADs secure the airway quickly and are free from the risk of intraoperative displacements and allow uneventful emergence in moderate and severe PBC neck cases and need to be considered as the first choice in these cases.