# Optimizing Anesthesia for Extensive Extraoral Fungating Lesions: Strategies and Considerations

## TL;DR

This paper discusses strategies for managing anesthesia in patients with large extraoral tumors, focusing on preoperative planning and surgical coordination.

## Contribution

The paper presents a successful case of anesthetic management for a complex head and neck cancer surgery with extensive extraoral fungation.

## Key findings

- Preoperative optimization and airway assessment are critical for managing anesthesia in patients with extraoral fungating lesions.
- A complete plan integrating surgical and anesthetic care leads to ideal patient outcomes in complex cases.
- Successful anesthetic management was achieved in a case involving composite resection and flap procedures for squamous cell carcinoma.

## Abstract

A large extraoral fungus, frequently seen in late head and neck cancers, poses serious difficulties for the management of anesthesia and surgery. Essential factors include preoperative optimization, airway assessment, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative care. Risk mitigation and outcome optimization strategies are discussed, including appropriate airway management and hemodynamic monitoring. Ideal patient outcomes in situations of extensive extraoral fungation can be attained by a complete plan that integrates surgical expertise and anesthetic care. This case discusses the successful anesthetic management of a 55-year-old man undergoing composite resection with segmental mandibulectomy, appropriate neck dissection, free fibular flap, and scalp flap for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower labial mucosa with significant extraoral fungation.