Objective To explore the clinical effect of superior laryngeal nerve block in awake fibreoptic orotracheal intubation.

Methods Sixty patients who underwent elective cervical surgery under general anethesia were included. Patients were randomly divided into two groups:superior laryngeal nerve block group (Group S, n=30) and control group (Group C, n=30) according to random number table method. SpO₂, heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at four time points were recorded:10 min afer entering the room (T1), fibrobronchoscope through the pharynx (T2), fibrobronchoscope through the glottis (T3), endotracheal tube through the glottis (T4). Rate of one-time success, scores of the vocal cord movement, cough and patient satisfaction, as well as complications were documented.

Results All patients successfully completed the tracheal intubation at one time, and the operation time of superior laryngeal nerve block was (1.29±0.29) min without hypoxemia. The scores of vocal cord movement, cough, and patient satisfaction were significantly better in Group S than those in Group C (P < 0.05). Compared with Group C, the MAP and HR in Group S at T3 and T4 were lower (P < 0.05). There were no relative complications in the two groups.

Conclusions The superior laryngeal nerve block does not affect the success rate of first-time tracheal intubation, can provide better conditions for awake fibreoptic intubation with alleviated vocal cord activity and cough, and the hemodynamics were more stable during the intubation procedure with high patient's satisfaction.