• Hidemasa Takahashi, Takeo Suzuki, Tatsuki Onisi, Mariko Senda, Tomohiko Takada, Keiko Ainoda, Hirotaka Iizuka, Kyouko Tagawa, and Masaharu Onda.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, Tokyo 130-8575.
• Masui. 2009 Mar 1;58(3):337-41.

BackgroundIn the cases in which the flexibility of the patient's neck is limited, it is often difficult to achieve intubation. Fiberoptic intubation has been chosen for patients with arthroses. However, as it requires techniques, it has been difficult for inexperienced anesthesiologists.MethodsAwake induction using AirWay Scope was performed for 8 patients with cervical spinal diseases. Midazolam, propofol or dexmedetomidine is selected as a sedative drug.ResultsIntubation was performed easily and safely without any complications in all cases. No patients had memories of intubation.ConclusionsAwake intubation using AirWay Scope for patients with cervical spinal diseases is a safe and useful anesthesia method. As dexmedetomidine causes no respiratory depression and can expect cooperation from patients, it may give safe and efficient sedation in awake intubation cases.

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