title: Airway anesthesia: theory and practice.
abstract: Topical anesthesia of the airway is a necessary for awake intubation and is usually achieved using lidocaine delivered by various means. Although some experts favor the use of airway blocks, a more common approach is to use pure topical methods in combination with "spray as you go" techniques. Once the topicalization is complete, the patient should be able to easily tolerate the use of an oral airway used to facilitate awake oral intubation. Nasal intubation requires additional topicalization of the nasal passages in conjunction with a vasoconstrictor. Finally, judicious sedation is frequently used when awake intubation is carried out.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Anesthesiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Department of General Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, PO Box 112412, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Electronic address: djdoyle@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: D John
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Doyle
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001566:Benzocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D001566:Benzocaine
keywords: Airway anesthesia; Airway blocks; Awake intubation; Benzocaine toxicity; Fiber optic intubation; Lidocaine toxicity; Local anesthesia; Topical anesthesia