Fibreoptic intubation in ankylosing spondylitis patients

Background: Ankylosing spondylytes is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by inflammation in spines and spinal arthritis with a complex polygenic aetiology. The disease is more common in young males and risk factors include both genetic and environmental. Anesthesia management for ankylosing spondylitis is a challenge due to management of difficult airway, respiratory and cardiovascular complications, as well as the medications for disease and pain control. Both airway management and neuraxial access may prove to be difficult. Awake fibreoptic intubation is the safest option (²) in these patients with a potentially difficult airway as it allows continuous neurological monitoring while achieving a difficult airway. Methods: This is a Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Study conducted in Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences; Total 70 Patients (Group A – 35, Group A – 35). All the subjects included after informed consent, blood samples and urine samples are collected from the all the subjects. Hb, RBCs, WBCs and Platelets was measured by laboratory standard methods. Along with Chest X- ray and ECG-for patients over 40 years of age. Results: This study was evaluated that in ankylosing spondylitis cases most of the physicians prefer to give general anaesthesia because to prevent trauma to the spinal cord but in these cases spine and surrounding tissues also it will involve at that time for maintain airway to the patient is challenge to the physicians by using fibreoptic intubation is good way to approach and maintain airway to the ankylosing patients. Conclusion: In this study suggest that in ankylosing spondylitis patients during surgery in place of tracheal intubation fibreoptic intubation is the best way to maintain airway to the patients and also we can prevent spinal cord damage.