Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Topical Anesthesia for Awake Intubation in a Patient With Difficult Airway: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND

Awake intubation is often distressing for patients, particularly in cases of difficult airway anatomy.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of successful awake fiber-optic intubation in a 69-year-old male with limited mouth opening due to previous ENT surgeries. Hypnosis was used alongside topical anesthesia and low-dose dexmedetomidine. The patient entered a relaxed state, and the intubation proceeded without pain, discomfort, or complications.

CONCLUSION

This case demonstrates the feasibility of using hypnosis as a noninvasive adjunct to improve comfort during awake intubation. Further studies are warranted.