title: Retrospective evaluation of airway management with blind awake intubation in temporomandibular joint ankylosis patients: A review of 48 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to determine the morbidity or mortality associated with the blind awake intubation technique in temporomandibular ankylosis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 48 cases with radiographically and clinically confirmed cases of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis were included in the study for evaluation of anesthetic management and its complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Airway assessment was done with standard proforma including Look externally, evaluate 3-3-2 rule, Mallampati classification, Obstruction, Neck mobility (LEMON) score assessment in all TMJ ankylosis patients. The intubation was carried out with the standard departmental anesthetic protocol in all the patients. The preoperative difficulty assessment and postoperative outcome were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blind awake intubation was done in 92% of cases, 6% of cases were intubated by fiberoptic awake intubation, and 2% patient required surgical airway. Ninety-eight percent of the patients were cooperative during the awake intubation. The frequent complications encountered during the blind awake intubation were epistaxis and sore throat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an anesthetic setup, where fiberoptic intubation is not available, blind awake intubation could be considered in the anesthetic management algorithm.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Duraiswamy
authors: D
authors: Sankar
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Radhika
authors: R
authors: Krishnan
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Muthusubramanian
authors: M
authors: Veerabahu
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Bhaskara Pandian
authors: BP
authors: Vikraman
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Nathan
keywords: Ankylosis; blind awake intubation; fiberoptic intubation