Bleeding mandibular AVM: Airway management

Abstract

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) of mandible may present as life threatening haemorrhage. Securing airway and giving general anaesthesia in such a patient with constant bleeding is a challenging task. A eight year old female presented as a dental emergency with a profusely bleeding AVM of mandible.The bleeding was controlled by the surgeon by digital pressure, the release of which resulted in flooding of airway with blood. We failed to maintain adequate seal using anatomical facemask and laryngeal mask airway after induction of anaesthesia due to the finger ofthe surgeon inside oral cavity to control bleeding. Rendell-Baker mask was used and a seal was made around the nose of the patient with lips of patient approximated and pateint could be easily ventilated.