A knife to the neck; An airway challenge for the Anesthesiologist: A case report

Abstract

Penetrating neck injuries are potentially life-threatening emergencies that can pose significant airway difficulties. There is a lack of evidence regarding the best practice for airway management in these patients. We aimed to describe a multistep approach to airway management in a 36-year-old patient with a 3 cm deep penetrating neck stab wound. A combined technique of videolaryngoscope and fiberoptic scope was utilized to secure the airway, considering the patient's stability and cooperation. In conclusion, D blade-assisted tracheal intubation following rapid sequence induction can be considered as a safe alternative to awake intubation with a high success rate in selected patients with penetrating neck injuries.