Oxford textbook of anaesthesia for oral and maxillofacial surgery (2nd edition - 2023)

Abstract

Preoperative assessment for oromaxillofacial surgery (OMFS) can be particularly challenging. OMFS encompasses a wide range of procedures, some of which may overlap with ENT, head & neck, neurosurgery and/or plastic surgery. The anaesthetist must have a good understanding of the extent and complexities of the surgery being undertaken in order to make an appropriate assessment and formulate an effective plan for anaesthesia and postoperative care. The setting in which these procedures are undertaken may be variable, ranging from the hospital operating theatre to the less familiar environment of the outpatient dental clinic, placing emphasis on the preoperative assessment in determining the most appropriate pathway. The indications for OMFS procedures frequently have anaesthetic implications, where concomitant injuries or associated syndromes/diseases must be taken into account in the anaesthetist's preoperative evaluation - in particular, the potential for difficult airway management. As with all shared-airway surgery, sound preoperative assessment and planning is essential in ensuring patient safety, whilst optimising surgical access and operating conditions. --Provided by Publisher