Dramatic Cervical Spine Injury Secondary to Videolaryngoscopy in a Patient Suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis

Education| September 2021 Dramatic Cervical Spine Injury Secondary to Videolaryngoscopy in a Patient Suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis Alexandre Epaud, M.D.; Alexandre Epaud, M.D. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Eric Levesque, M.D., Ph.D.; Eric Levesque, M.D., Ph.D. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Simon Clariot, M.D. Simon Clariot, M.D. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Author and Article Information From the Department of Anaesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Henri Mondor Hospital, Créteil, France (A.E., E.L., S.C.), and Paris-Est Créteil University, Créteil, France (E.L., S.C.). Published online first on June 28, 2021. Address correspondence to Dr. Clariot: Anesthesiology September 2021, Vol. 135, 495–496. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000003866 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Alexandre Epaud, Eric Levesque, Simon Clariot; Dramatic Cervical Spine Injury Secondary to Videolaryngoscopy in a Patient Suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis. Anesthesiology 2021; 135:495–496 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000003866 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll PublicationsAnesthesiology Search Advanced Search Topics: ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spine injuries An 84-yr-old woman with a history of ankylosing spondylitis was scheduled for lymph node biopsy under general anesthesia. Preoperative anesthestic assessment mentioned a potential difficult intubation owing to a rigid cervical flexion deformity with limited range of motion. The patient was alert with a normal neurologic exam. Preoperative imaging showed evidence of bamboo spine without any underlying fracture (panel A). Both videolaryngoscopy and fiberoptic intubation were considered for airway management. Videolaryngoscopy was preferred because the operator was more familiar with this technique. The videolaryngoscope was inserted using an in-line traction. The operator did not succeed in introducing the tracheal tube because of cervical rigidity and difficulties in exposing the epiglottis. Using a bougie, the patient was intubated after two attempts. During the postoperative course, hypotension and acute respiratory failure occurred. Neurologic exam showed a left hemiparesis. A computed tomography scan with a sagittal neck reconstruction revealed a C5–C6 dislocation... You do not currently have access to this content.