Feasibility of a Catheter-Assisted Endotracheal Intubation Technique in a Patient With Restricted Cervical Mobility: A Case Report.

Abstract

Securing the airway in patients with restricted cervical mobility is challenging because cervical movement should be minimized during tracheal intubation. We report the technical feasibility of a catheter-assisted modification of a standard endotracheal tube in a 45-year-old woman undergoing cervical spine surgery. A sterile flexible epidural catheter was passed through the tube lumen and redirected along its external surface. During direct laryngoscopy, gentle traction on the externalized catheter produced controlled anterior deflection of the tube tip, facilitating alignment with the laryngeal inlet. Tracheal intubation was successfully achieved on the first attempt without alternative airway devices. No device-related complications occurred during intubation, and postoperative follow-up showed only mild transient sore throat, with no other airway-related complications. This case demonstrates the technical feasibility of this catheter-assisted approach as a potential adjunct in selected patients. However, a single case cannot establish safety, comparative effectiveness, or generalizability, and further studies are required.