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CC BY 4.0 · J Neuroanaesth Crit Care
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1775808
Case Report

Perioperative Challenges in Airway and Ventilatory Management of a Neurosurgical Patient with Klippel–Feil Syndrome

Geetha Lakshminarasimhaiah 
1   Department of Neuroanaesthesia and Neurocritical Care, Ramaiah Institute of Neurosciences, M. S. Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Akshita Niranjan 
2   Department of Anaesthesiology, M. S. Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Sonika Shivakumar
2   Department of Anaesthesiology, M. S. Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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Abstract

Klippel–Feil syndrome, a rare congenital anomaly, has a classical triad of low posterior hairline, short neck, and restriction of neck movements. Complex airway anatomy increases the risk of neurological damage while handling the airway during positioning and laryngoscopy. We address the possible anesthetic challenges that one might face in these patients, such as difficult airway, difficult weaning from the ventilator with increased chances of reintubation, prolonged intensive care and mechanical ventilation, and difficult tracheostomy. Every anesthesiologist must be aware of the available options in the management of a difficult airway in emergent circumstances. Despite the numerous encounters, we were able to effectively manage a case of Klippel–Feil syndrome perioperatively.

Keywords

Klippel–Feil syndrome - airway management - tracheostomy - intracranial hemorrhages


Publication History

Article published online:
28 February 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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