Dexmedetomidine and emergency front of neck access for acute stridor in advanced laryngeal carcinoma: Anesthetic challenges

Supraglottic airway obstruction due to airway malignancy resulting in respiratory distress is a medical emergency requiring urgent re-establishment of airway patency, with tracheostomy to alleviate the stridor and threat to life. We report a 61-year-old male patient who presented with acute stridor, dyspnea, and a left-sided metastatic neck mass to the emergency room. The patient was rushed to the operation theater for emergency tracheostomy under monitored anesthesia care. We hereby discuss a successful surgical cricothyroidotomy, post failed emergency tracheostomy under dexmedetomidine infusion.