Anesthetic Management for Pediatric Awake Tracheostomy

Abstract

Awake tracheostomy is indicated for acute upper airway obstruction, when other methods of securing the airway, such as intubation and cricothyrotomy, have failed or are inappropriate. This option is rarely considered in pediatrics because of the concerns of patient cooperation and safety and has not been described in the literature. We describe the anesthetic management of an awake tracheostomy performed on a 7-year-old girl, with a large supraglottic mass obstructing the laryngeal introitus.