# Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Topical Anesthesia for Awake Intubation in a Patient With Difficult Airway: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report shows that hypnosis can help reduce distress during awake intubation in patients with difficult airways.

## Contribution

The paper introduces hypnosis as a novel noninvasive adjunct to topical anesthesia for awake intubation.

## Key findings

- Hypnosis helped the patient achieve a relaxed state during intubation.
- The procedure was completed without pain or complications.
- The approach shows promise for improving patient comfort in difficult airway cases.

## Abstract

Awake intubation is often distressing for patients, particularly in cases of difficult airway anatomy.

We report a case of successful awake fiber‐optic intubation in a 69‐year‐old male with limited mouth opening due to previous ENT surgeries. Hypnosis was used alongside topical anesthesia and low‐dose dexmedetomidine. The patient entered a relaxed state, and the intubation proceeded without pain, discomfort, or complications.

This case demonstrates the feasibility of using hypnosis as a noninvasive adjunct to improve comfort during awake intubation. Further studies are warranted.