Keywords
difficult airway - neurointervention - vascular malformation
Introduction
Airway assessment and management is an important domain of the anesthesiologist. Securing
the airway with an endotracheal tube is often required for adequate airway control.
In anticipated difficult airway situations where conventional direct laryngoscopy
is anticipated to be difficult, fiberoptic bronchoscope-guided awake endotracheal
intubation has gained importance. However, upper airway obstruction (near complete)
is a relative contraindication to fiberoptic intubation.[1] In such cases, elective tracheostomy under local anesthesia is the only possible
alternative for securing the airway.
Venous malformations are soft tissue masses arising from the congenital disruption
of normal venous development. They frequently appear in the head and neck region.
Venous malformations are the third most vascular mass following hemangiomas and lymphatic
malformations.[2] Treatment options include surgical excision, laser ablation, cryosurgery, or endovascular
sclerotherapy using steroids and sclerosing agents such as sodium tetradecyl sulfate.[3]
In this report, we describe the airway management done in the neurointervention suite
for a 45-year-old man with large right facial vascular malformation compromising the
airway.
Case Report
A 45-year-old man, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status
I, presented with progressive breathing difficulty since few months ([Fig. 1]). The patient felt breathless more in the supine position and was comfortable in
the sitting position. His vitals and systemic examination were unremarkable. On preoperative
examination, a swelling over the right side of the face extending into the neck anteriorly
was seen. Airway examination showed a large hypervascular growth occupying the whole
oral cavity making further visualization of oropharyngeal structures difficult. Awake
video laryngoscopy done previously showed extensive hypervascular growth involving
right base of the tongue, valleculae, epiglottis, pyriform fossa, and bilateral false
and true vocal cords. Findings of computed tomography (CT) of the neck were diffuse
swelling on right side of the neck extending superiorly into the right parapharyngeal
space; inferiorly into the thyroid cartilage; medially into the right aryepiglottic
fold, false vocal cord; anteriorly into base of tongue; and posteriorly into the anterior
to carotid space ([Fig. 2]). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed CT findings ([Figs. 3], [4]). The patient was thus scheduled for embolization of the vascular malformation.
Based on the clinical features and radiologic findings, the decision was taken to
go ahead with awake elective tracheostomy for securing the airway. Preoperative routine
investigations such as complete blood count, serum creatinine, and coagulation profile
were normal. Adequate blood was reserved for the procedure. Written informed high-risk
consent was obtained from the patient. The patient was kept nil orally overnight.
Fig. 1 Photograph of the patient showing the swelling over right side of the face and neck.
Fig. 2 Computed tomography scan of the neck showing relation of venous malformation (white
arrow) with airway (red arrow).
Fig. 3 Magnetic resonance imaging scan of the neck showing relation of venous malformation
(white arrows) with airway (red arrows).
Fig. 4 Magnetic resonance imaging scan sagittal view showing venous malformation posterior
to the tongue and anterior to the cervical spine.
On the day of procedure as per plan, neuroanesthesia team, ENT (ear-nose-throat),
neurointervention, and critical care teams were present for the procedure in the neurointervention
suite. The patient was wheeled in. All ASA standard monitors were attached. Two large-bore
intravenous accesses were secured. No sedative premedication was administered to the
patient. The patient was oxygenated with 100% oxygen. Because of the vascular malformation,
surgical landmarks were difficult to identify. Awake surgical tracheostomy was attempted
under local anesthesia. At incision, uncontrolled massive bleeding occurred. Attempt
to control bleeding with pressure application was unsuccessful, and further dissection
was abandoned but meanwhile the patient started desaturating. Saturation improved
with bag-mask ventilation with 100% oxygen and intermittent emergency oxygen flush.
Bleeding continued incessantly irrespective of all the measures taken by the operative
surgeon. Moreover, aspiration of blood into the lower respiratory tract caused further
deterioration of the patient's condition such as bradycardia, hypotension, and desaturation.
Percutaneous tracheostomy was challenging in this patient as the neck anatomy was
distorted and there was an increased risk of further blood loss and desaturation due
to aspiration of blood into the trachea. As a lifesaving measure, percutaneous tracheostomy
was attempted, and with great difficulty, it was achieved. Tracheostomy tube (TT)
position was confirmed with capnography and fluoroscopy. Blood loss was approximately
1,000 mL, and the patient was resuscitated with colloid and blood transfusion.
Digital subtraction angiography was done after stabilization of the patients’ vital
parameters. It did not suggest of any arterial component to the parapharyngeal venous
malformation. Sclerotherapy with injection of sodium tetradecyl sulfate was achieved.
The patient was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with TT in situ, where he
developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome leading to acute respiratory distress
syndrome and stress-induced cardiomyopathy.
The patient was managed in ICU successfully. His condition improved gradually, and
he was shifted to the ward after 2 weeks. After rehabilitation and speech therapy,
he was discharged with TT in situ. Complete closure of venous malformation was achieved
with subsequent sclerotherapy treatment.
Discussion
Venous malformations are composed of anomalous veins with ill-defined boundaries that
infiltrate normal tissue. They frequently appear in the head and neck region. If left
untreated, venous malformations continuously expand and develop thrombi, become painful,
and disrupt normal function.[2]
Anesthetic management of vascular malformations depends on location, extent, age,
and clinical presentation. Additional anesthetic considerations in facial venous malformations
are difficult intubation, airway compression, and obstructive sleep apnea.[4] In patients with vascular soft tissue mass, imaging confirms clinical history and
it is diagnostic. MRI helps in determining extent of venous malformation, evaluation
of adjacent neurovascular structure, and inflow and outflow channels. Treatment options
include surgical excision (laser or cryosurgery), sclerotherapy, and embolization.
Neurointervention suite is a place where handling difficult airway and related emergencies
add to the challenges of anesthetic management. Training of the personnel is also
not adequate to handle difficult airway emergencies compared with operating theater.
This presents an additional challenge for the attending anesthesiologist.
In our case, venous malformation involved almost the entire pharynx and larynx. Increased
vascularity and friability of the lesion added to the risks. Any fiddling with it
during airway management could have caused uncontrolled bleeding from lesion. Hence
awake fiberoptic that is normally considered as a standard technique of securing difficult
airway was not possible here. Therefore, elective awake tracheostomy was planned.
Surgical tracheostomy is believed to be the safest option in difficult airway situations.
However, in our case we faced unanticipitated complications such as bleeding and airway
compromise. Several factors influence choice of technique to manage the emergency
airway, which includes anatomical, user experience, and available devices.
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy was performed successfully, and airway was
secured. Although percutaneous tracheostomy is not advisable in emergency situations,
it can be safely performed under experienced hands. It may be easier and faster than
surgical tracheostomy.[5]
Conclusion
Patients with vascular lesions in the head and neck region have potential to cause
problems in airway management and massive bleeding. Preoperative clinical assessment
and radiologic findings are crucial to diagnose potential airway difficulties. Surgical
tracheostomy is considered to be the final option in difficult airway management,
but catastrophic complications may arise during the procedure. Current knowledge of
available airway management alternatives would enable us to overcome difficult airway
difficulties.
