Paediatric airway and challenges during covid era

Abstract

Pediatric airway brings some unique challenges to anesthesiologist. Anaesthesiologists are at particularly high risk of being exposed to Covid cases because airway management, particularly tracheal intubation, positive pressure ventilation through a mask, and management of tracheostomy tubes, causes widespread aerosolization of the virus. But these cases cannot be deferred. The aim is to present a case series of difficult pediatric airway scenarios managed successfully with different techniques and airway gadgets during COVID times taking all safety precautions. The following cases were managed successfully with appropriate airway techniques from the period of April 2020 to September 2021 in our institute.First case series of Tracheobronchial foreign bodies removal using controlled ventilation. Secondly Juvenile onset recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis for excision under coblation, one case managed by tubeless anesthesia and other by intubation using videolarygoscopy. Third case scenarios of Laryngeal web for excision with MLS scissor managed by LMA followed by tracheostomy. These airway related complications during COVID era, not only had logistic problems but also to optimize and work in a coordinated way with ENT surgeon in the common airway is a challenging task. These three case scenarios of pediatric airway during COVID times, were successfully managed with appropriate airway gadget suitable for each case without any complications.