Misleading Endoscopic Airway Images – Who Does the Examination Matters!!!

Abstract

We report a 38-year-old female, post-oesophagectomy with transposed colon, presenting with dysphagia for oesophageal dilatation. General anaesthesia was requested for as the patient did not tolerate previous dilatation attempts under local anaesthesia. Endoscopic images provided by the otorhinolaryngologists and gastroenterologists showed a good view of the glottis, suggesting a possible easy intubation. But direct laryngoscopy after sedation and airway topicalisation revealed an airway with extensive adhesions that would have been impossible to intubate. The patient was awakened and planned for the procedure after tracheostomy. Endoscopic images done by non-anaesthesiologists should be interpreted with caution.