Unanticipated Difficult Airway During Elective Surgery: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Difficult airway during anesthesia is responsible for several cases of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially when it is unanticipated. Patients with either history of or with predictive factors of a difficult airway show better outcomes since all preventative measures will ensure patient safety. Approximately 30% of all deaths attributed to anesthesia are related to unsuccessful intubation. In this article, we discuss a patient who had a tracheostomy following an unanticipated difficult airway with undiagnosed subglottic stenosis and also reviewed the current literature on the difficult airway.