Airway Management of a Patient With Penetrating Maxillofacial Trauma Caused by Chainsaw Kickback: A Case Report

Abstract

Anesthesiologists rarely experience airway management in patients with maxillofacial injuries caused by a chainsaw. A 36-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of maxillofacial injuries caused by chainsaw kickback. There were deep lacerations of the right eyelid, medial canthus, cheek, and jaw with venous bleeding. The laceration of the cheek reached the oral cavity and looked like a "second mouth." The patient was taken to the operating room for urgent laceration repair under general anesthesia. Despite a poor laryngeal view, awake orotracheal intubation with a videolaryngoscope was successful on the second attempt without complications. Oxygenation was optimized by supplemental oxygen administration via a suction catheter inserted from the "second mouth" throughout the airway management. The present case highlights the importance of airway management strategies according to the nature of the trauma in patients with penetrating maxillofacial trauma caused by a chainsaw.