OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of an awake fiberoptic intubation (AFOI) protocol.
METHODS: We enrolled 40 patients with simulated difficult intubation. The protocol consisted of conscious sedation (midazolam, 0.03 mg/kg and sufentanil, 0.1 µg/kg), regional anesthesia, and intubation. The time, first-attempt intubation success rate, hemodynamic parameters, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), intubation amnesia rate, patient satisfaction, and relative complications were recorded.
RESULTS: AFOI was completed in all patients. The average total AFOI time was 14.17 ± 1.47 minutes, and the time to placing the landmark-guided bilateral superior laryngeal nerve block was 1.24 ± 0.42 minutes. The first-attempt intubation success rate was 97.5%, and patient satisfaction was 90%. Blood pressure changed (<20%) briefly after administering conscious sedation. Heart rates did not change significantly, and SpO2 remained stable and ≥95%. Three patients had a sore throat, which resolved on postoperative day 1 without other complications. On postoperative day 1, 82.5% (33/40) of the patients had no recall of AFOI, and 17.5% (7/40) had only an indistinct memory.
CONCLUSIONS: The protocol was feasible with a high first-attempt intubation success rate and low complications rate. Hemodynamic parameters and respiration remained stable, with high patient satisfaction and effective amnesia.

UNASSIGNED: Awake fiberoptic intubation (AFOI) is the gold standard technique for managing patients with anticipated difficult airway. Conscious sedation is desirable, not only to make the procedure more tolerable and comfortable for the patient but also to ensure optimal intubating conditions. Ideal sedation regime for AFOI should provide comfort, cooperation, hemodynamic stability, and amnesia along with maintenance of spontaneous respiration. Several sedative agents have been assessed over the past two decades for this purpose but α2 agonists appear to be the favorable choice owing to its sedative, analgesic, amnestic, and sympatholytic properties along with good hemodynamic profile.
UNASSIGNED: The present study has been aimed to recognize the characteristics of dexmedetomidine, clonidine, and midazolam and to compare their efficacy in providing optimal intubating conditions as well as hemodynamic stability during AFOI.
UNASSIGNED: A prospective double-blind randomized study done in tertiary care hospital.
UNASSIGNED: Sixty patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Classes I and II aged 18-60 years with anticipated difficult airway were randomly allocated into three groups. All the patients received injection midazolam bolus followed by sedation infusion of midazolam, dexmedetomidine, and clonidine according to the allocated group. Primary outcome includes the time to achieve Ramsay Sedation Score (RSS) ≥2, time taken in intubation, intubation score, comfort score for fiberoptic insertion and intubation, and patient tolerance after intubation. The secondary outcome was hemodynamic, and respiratory variables include changes in heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and respiratory rate during the procedure.
UNASSIGNED: All data were recorded, summarized, tabulated, and statistically analyzed using SPSS 16.0 version (Chicago, Inc., USA). The data were presented in mean ± standard deviation. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
UNASSIGNED: All the three groups were comparable in terms of demographic profile. Time to achieve RSS ≥2 and mean intubation time was significantly less in Groups D and C as compared to Group M (P < 0.001). Among groups, Group D took least time to achieve RSS ≥2 (5.53 ± 0.74) and mean intubation time (4.53 ± 0.91). Similarly, overall intubation score, comfort, and patient tolerance score were significantly more in Group M as compared to Groups D and C (P < 0.001). Among the groups, Group D achieved least intubation score (3.80 ± 0.67) and comfort score (2.53 ± 0.74). Although Groups D and C have a lower mean HR and MAP during the procedure and intubation compared to Group M, the incidence of SpO2 is most frequent with clonidine.
UNASSIGNED: Patients who received α2 agonist were calmer and cooperative with less pain and discomfort than the patients who received midazolam. Dexmedetomidine allows better endurance, stable hemodynamics, and patent airway as compared to clonidine.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed and carried out aiming to evaluate the effects of local dexmedetomidine (Dex) on sedation rate and hemodynamic changes in candidate patients for fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation.
METHODS: Candidate patients for fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation were randomly divided into three groups including intravenous (IV) Dex group, local Dex group, and control group. Local anesthesia using lidocaine was performed in all patients. After performing the intubation, propofol infusion was used to keep the patients on predetermined cerebral state index (CSI). Hemodynamic parameters, arterial blood O2 saturation (SpO2), and CSI were monitored in all patients before, during, and after the procedure. Coughing score, intubation score, and patient tolerance score during and after nasotracheal intubation were assessed. Propofol consumption was also measured.
RESULTS: A total of 95 patients with the mean age of 45.4 ± 6.7 years were evaluated (54.2% of females). Hemodynamic parameters and SpO2 were significantly different between the three groups (P < 0.001). The dose of propofol used for reaching proper CSI was significantly higher in the control group compared to IV and local Dex groups (P < 0.001). There is no significant statistical difference in propofol consumption between local and IV Dex groups. The number of patients who were cooperative during intubation was higher in local Dex group compared to IV Dex and control groups; however, the difference was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: It is likely that using local Dex during fiberoptic bronchoscopy decreases sudden changes in hemodynamic values and decreases coughing and improves patient tolerance and intubation scores. Local Dex can be useful as IV form with the aim of propofol dose saving.

Awake fiberoptic intubation is an alternative procedure for securing the airway and is a recommended option when a difficult airway is expected. The aim of the present study was to describe patient experiences with this procedure.
A qualitative, descriptive design was used and patients were recruited from three county hospitals and one university hospital in Sweden. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews with 13 patients who underwent awake fiberoptic intubation. A qualitative content analysis extracted theme, categories, and subcategories.
From the patient statements, one main theme emerged, feelings of being in a vulnerable situation but cared for in safe hands, which were described in five categories with 15 subcategories. The categories were: a need for tailored information, distress and fear of the intubation, acceptance and trust of the staff\'s competence, professional caring and support, and no hesitation about new awake intubation. The patients felt they lacked information about what to expect and relied on the professionals\' expertise. Some patients felt overwhelmed by the information they were given and wanted less specific information about the equipment used but more information about how they would be cared for in the operating room. Undergoing awake intubation was an acceptable experience for most patients, whereas others experienced it as being painful and terrifying because they felt they could not breathe or communicate during the procedure itself.
Tailored information about what to expect, ensuring eye contact and breathing instruction during the procedure seems to reduce patient distress when undergoing awake fiberoptic intubation. Most of the patients would not hesitate to undergo awake intubation again in the future if needed.