• Yu-Ting Kuo, Ting-Shou Chang, Chih-Chi Tsai, Hsin-Chih Chang, and Yuan-Yi Chia.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
• J Chin Med Assoc. 2024 Mar 1; 87 (3): 334339334-339.

BackgroundLaryngeal microsurgery (LMS) typically requires intubated general anesthesia (ITGA). Although nonintubated general anesthesia (NIGA) with high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) can be applied with LMS, a muscle relaxant is required, which can cause apnea and hypercapnia. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a superior laryngeal nerve block (SLNB) in improving safety during LMS.MethodsThis prospective cohort study enrolled a cumulative total of 61 adult patients received LMS under intravenous general anesthesia and allocated to three groups: ITGA group (n = 18), which patients performed intubation; neuromuscular blocking (NMB) group (n = 21), which patients administrated muscle relaxant without intubation and superior laryngeal nerve block (NB) group (n = 22), which patients performed SLNB without intubation or muscle relaxant.ResultsThe average (SD) values of PaCO 2 after surgery in ITGA, NMB, and NB group were 50.8 (7.5), 97.5 (24.9), and 54.8 (8.8) mmHg, respectively. The mean postoperative pH values were 7.33 (0.04), 7.14 (0.07), and 7.33 (0.04), respectively. The results were all p < 0.001, and the average pH value of the NMB group was lower than that of the ITGA and NB groups. During the LMS, the mean heart rate (HR) (93.9 [18.1] bpm) and noninvasive blood pressure systolic (NBPs) (143.5 [28.2] mmHg) in the NMB group were higher than those in the ITGA group (HR = 77.4 [13.5] bpm and NBPs = 132.7 [20.8] mmHg) and NB group (HR = 82.3 [17.4] bpm and NBPs = 120.9 [25.0] mmHg). The results of p value by HR and NBPs are p < 0.001. The PaCO 2 and pH values are similar between ITGA group and NB group.ConclusionOur approach of using HFNO with SLNB was successful for performing nonintubated LMS, enabling the patients to maintain spontaneous breathing and effectively eliminate CO 2 . This approach reduces the risks of hypercapnia and acidosis even when the duration of LMS exceeds 30 minutes.Copyright © 2024, the Chinese Medical Association.

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