Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

The Korean Dental Society of Anesthsiology (대한치과마취과학회)
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Anesthetic management for emergency tracheostomy in patients with head and neck cancer: a case series

  • Ci Young, Kim (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University) ;
  • Seongji, Cho (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University) ;
  • Seung-Hwa, Ryoo (Department of Dental Anesthesiology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2022.11.04
  • Accepted : 2022.11.24
  • Published : 2022.12.01
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Abstract

Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that is commonly used to treat upper airway obstruction. In particular, patients with head and neck cancer may require elective or emergency tracheostomy because of airway obstruction due to massive bleeding of the intraoral tumor mass and rapid growth of the tumor mass in the neck area. Here, we report four cases of tracheostomy in patients with head and neck cancer with narrowed airway space and difficulty in breathing. Based on these cases and a literature review, we recommend that oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dental anesthesiologists should cooperate closely and determine the appropriate timing to perform definitive airway management for such patients during palliative treatment, along with continuous evaluation of tumor location, risk of recurrence, and airway involvement.

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References

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