Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 5/10/2007

Question
I had dental surgery with general anesthesia last year. When I awoke, I was informed that I was difficult to intubate and was given a letter. I am currently scheduled for mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in 1 week and have been told that I will be intubated while awake or semiconscious. Will I be aware of and feel what they are doing during the intubation process? If so, is there not another way to safely achieve intubation?

Answer
You will have an awake fiberoptic intubation. What this means is the they will intubate you under direct vision while you are still breathing spontaneously and awake. They will give you sedation and blocks (so you don't gag), so you will likely not remember too much of the procedure. OTher than doing the case under regional anesthesia (not easy for this case), there is no safer way.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston