Airway management of a patient with achondroplasia using awake fiberoptic intubation: A case report

Achondroplasia is a disorder of the growth of bones that results from a genetic defect that causes dwarfism in the arms and legs. Though more than a hundred distinct forms of dwarfism have been documented, achondroplastic dwarfism is the most common kind. The most common anesthetic obstacles in individuals with achondroplasia are primarily linked to difficult airway and spinal features. More consideration needs to be given to avoiding unfavorable outcomes in these patients when selecting the optimal anesthetic approach, such as atlantoaxial dislocation, severe spinal cord injury, or high spinal anesthesia. The patient in our case measured 104 cm and had the following risk indicators for a difficult airway: modified mallampati grading III, sternomental distance of 7 cm, upperlip biting test grade 2, atlanto occipital movement grade 3, and limited neck movement in terms of flexion and extension. We chose awake fiberoptic intubation, where a shallower depth and a slightly anterior direction of the fiberscope were crucial to the intubation's effectiveness.