Use of remifentanil for awake fiberoptic intubation in a morbidly obese patient with severe inflammation of the neck.

Impending upper airway obstruction due to odontogenic facial and cervical spreading infection is a potential fatal situation that requires urgent treatment. In particular, securing the threatened airway is a priority and a precondition to the pressing need for surgery. The best approach to establish the difficult airway is awake fiberoptic intubation or scheduled tracheotomy under local anesthesia. We report a critical case of severe swelling of the neck in a morbidly obese patient with no alternative to awake fiberoptic intubation. The primary goals of optimal safety for the patient and appropriate intubating conditions for the anesthesiologist made us to consider a new method of patient medication.