Superior laryngeal nerve block for awake intubation in pediatric patients with mediastinal tumors and superior vena cava syndrome undergoing thoracotomy biopsy surgery

Putra, Putu Agus Aryanda and Widnyana, I Made Gede (2025) Superior laryngeal nerve block for awake intubation in pediatric patients with mediastinal tumors and superior vena cava syndrome undergoing thoracotomy biopsy surgery. GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 32 (1). pp. 347-350. ISSN 2581-3250

Mediastinal tumors can occur in pediatric patients, where thoracotomy biopsy is a diagnostic modality that can be performed. Anesthesia management in this case can be quite challenging due to the mediastinal tumor, which can cause compression of the airway, potentially leading to apnea during anesthesia. Additionally, some of the current awake intubation techniques are more frequently used in older patients. Some modifications of the awake intubation guidelines can be made and adjusted according to the patient's clinical condition. Ensuring sedation, comfort, and patient cooperation are key to the success of this technique. A combination of regional anesthesia techniques can assist with analgesia both during and after surgery. We present a successful case of awake intubation in a 15-year-old male with mediastinum tumor and Grade I Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.