Cervical spine overflexion in a halo orthosis contributes to complete upper airway obstruction during awake bronchoscopic intubation: a case report

Conclusion In this case, external cervical spine fixation in flexion resulted in a change to the O-C2 angle, which reduced the oropharyngeal area and predisposed to upper airway obstruction. This highlights the need for anesthesiologists to evaluate the degree of cervical spine flexion in patients with halo devices and to have the surgical team present during airway management in the event of acute airway obstruction.
Source: Canadian Journal of Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research