Journal Of Scientific Innovations In Anesthesiology

Management of an anticipated difficult airway due to a vallecular cyst in an adult patient: when surgical airway takes the lead!!

• Authors Details :  
• Michell Gulabani,  
• Geetanjali T Chilkoti,  
• Swati Jain,  
• Medha Mohta

Journal title : Journal of Scientific Innovations in Anesthesiology

Publisher : Revo Publication

Page Number : 25-27

Journal volume : 1

Journal issue : 1

33 Views Case Report

Vallecular cysts, although infrequent in adults, pose a challenge for anesthesiologists in view of the risk of airway obstruction at anesthesia induction or aspiration in case of cyst rupture. The present case is of a 35-year-old male patient who was scheduled for excision of a vallecular cyst. An awake technique was initially decided for nasotracheal intubation using a flexible videolaryngoscope, AmbuscopeTM, after complete topicalization of the airway with local anesthesia. However, anticipating the need for a tracheostomy, the surgical team was prepared, and this was timely chosen as the only viable option following failure to visualize the glottis despite negotiating every possible way around the cyst. This case highlights the successful management of a large vallecular cyst in an adult patient, where failed awake nasotracheal intubation despite optimal preparation necessitated an early, planned tracheostomy. This reiterates the fact that the surgical airway may not be always chosen as the last resort in crisis but also as a timely intervention to prevent an airway catastrophe.

Article DOI & Crossmark Data

DOI : https://doi.org/10.65929/JSIA.2026.1.1.004

Article Subject Details

• Airway
• Anaesthesia pain

Article Keywords Details

• Surgical airway
• Tracheostomy
• Vallecular cyst

Article File

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