Dr.K.O.Paulose FRCS, DLO.Consultant ENT Surgeon.
Jubilee Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala, South India
A patient with severe obstructive sleep apnea with loud snoring is about to undergo Coblator Surgery in the upper airway. A Flexible fibre optic endoscopy of the upper airway is done after giving Midazolam and fentanyl by the anesthetist. The exact location of the narrowing of the upper airway can be seen before undertaking surgical steps.
This can be used by anesthetist for endoscopic guided intubation in difficult cases.
Dynamic endoscopy represents a great advance in diagnostic approach of patients having OSA, once it allows a direct and dynamic evaluation, under endoscopic view, of the upper airway during sedation or induced sleep.
