Topical and Regional Anesthesia of the Airway

Despite recent advancements in video and digital laryngoscopes, awake intubation continues to be an important modality for anesthesiologists to secure the airway. Awake intubation (AI) can be performed for a variety of conditions that result in a difficult airway. Congenital anomalies involving the head and neck, tumors of the airway, morbid obesity, cervical spine pathology, and trauma associated with facial and cervical instability all make direct laryngoscopy challenging and can be indications for awake intubation.