Anaesthesia for maxillofacial surgery

Arrandale, Lindsay; Mitchell, Viki

doi:10.1016/j.mpaic.2008.06.004

« Previous Next »Anaesthesia & intensive care medicine
Volume 9, Issue 8 , Pages 351-354, August 2008

Anaesthesia for maxillofacial surgery

Lindsay Arrandale, FRCA, is a Specialist Registrar in Anaesthesia on the Imperial School Rotation, London. She qualified from the Royal Free Hospital and is currently an Airway Research Fellow at University College Hospital, London

Viki Mitchell, FRCA, is a Consultant Anaesthetist at University College Hospital, London. She qualified from King's College, London, and trained in anaesthesia in London. Her specialist interests are maxillofacial anaesthesia and management of the difficult airway

Abstract

Maxillofacial surgery presents special challenges to the anaesthetist as the airway is shared with the surgeons. In order to do this safely and effectively each needs to understand and accommodate the needs of the other and good communication is essential. Particular considerations for maxillofacial anaesthesia include the choice of airway management technique at intubation, at extubation and during maintenance of anaesthesia, the use of a throat pack to prevent soiling of the lower airway, protecting the eyes from pressure and minimizing postoperative swelling and nausea and vomiting.

Keywords: airway exchange catheter, anaesthesia, difficult airway management, equipment, laryngeal mask, maxillofacial, tracheal tube