Anaesthetic management of a patient with a mobile pedunculated oropharyngeal mass

As an anaesthesiologist, who faces several challenges in the Operating Room (OR), difficult intubation seems to be the most arduous. Anticipated difficult intubation if not planned well can be both cumbersome and disastrous. We describe the successful management of a case of anticipated difficult intubation due to a rare oropharyngeal mass, which was mobile and moved with respiration, arising from the left lateral wall of oropharynx. We used the technique of awake Fibreoptic Intubation (FOI) for intubating the trachea with dexmedetomidine infusion for sedation. Clinical findings and radiological imaging was used for assessment of difficult airway. Managing a case of difficult airway is highly individualised and meticulous planning is required in anticipated cases. A difficult airway complicates up to one tenths of cases of elective general anaesthesia. Such situations can be anticipated and tackled by fibreoptic flexible bronchoscopy assisted tracheal intubation.