Difficult Airway

I do have one concern about something that was said to me yesterday. The Anesthesiologist was concerned about the size of my neck and throat. He said he thinks I might have a difficult airway. And if that is the case, they would want to put a fiber optic tube down my throat or nose (cant remember) through my vocal cords and into my lung. so they can breathe for me. HOWEVER, this would need to be done while I was awake. Has anyone ever had to have this done. and if you had can you tell me about it. i dont like the sound of it. thanks

I have never heard of it sweety..but would be willing to bet that they will give you versed and happy shots..so that you will technically be awake..but won't give a hoot! Like getting a colonoscopy! personally I shudder at the thought of tubes in my nose and down my throat...however they do it...I hope it is not too uncomfortable for you! hugs, Sher'

Lauren My friend had like this. They sprayed stuff in her thoart to make numb then insert the tube down her thoart while she is wake (last up to a min) then they puts her sleep right away. She said she did not feel at all. I emailed you private yesterday at your home email. Hugs Kathy K

Hi Lauren, I too had what they considered a difficult airway (also at Yale with Dr. Bell) however they did not tell me that until I was being prepped for surgery!!! Imagine my suprise. I was a bit pissed at all my friends who had been through this and had not told me about this part of the procedure. Well come to find out they didn't tell me because it didn't happen to them. That being said I will explain what happens so you can be prepared. I will also tell you that even though I went through all the preperation they were able to put me to sleep before they actually put the tube in and they always take it out before you wake up. What they had me do was gargle with this kind of thick stuff and then swallow it. They then sprayed my throat with a litacaine spray and then I had to repeat the process again. It isn't painful or anything like that just tastes . That numbs your throat so you don't feel anything. The reason for that is that some of us have small mouths (yeah folks believe it or not I do have a small mouth....) and they don't want to damage the vocal cords when inserting the tube. Sometimes they need to use the fiber optic camera and they need us awake to swallow or move when necessary. The anesthesiologist at Yale are very good and as I said were able to insert the tube without my being awake in the end. Actually the resident came to visit me the next day and asked if I remembered him. I laughed and said OH YES!! You are the one that made me drink that nasty stuff. . He did tell me that the attending doctor (can't remember his name) did the procedure and had no problem with the insertion. Hope this info helps and puts your mind a bit more at ease. May your slide to the losing side be as uneventful and pain free as possible. Linda

thanks Linda, you just described for me what they told me would take place. They want to try and avoid doing this so they are having me get my records from all of my past surgeries to see if any other anestatist has ever had trouble intabating me, (so they can breathe for me). If it was not an issue they wont have to do this, but they think it might have been (because of a description I gave them regarding an "episode" I had in the or in one of my past surgeries). In any case, it sounds like its not so bad, they make you swallow yucky stuff and you could give a hoot really. no pain, or discomfort really, I can handle discomfort, I have been through much in my life. Im a cancer survivor. This is probably not a walk in the park, but if you could do it, I can do it. See you on the other side.