Anatomy

Question 1

Nerves to block for awake fiberoptic intubation

Answer 1

Glossopharyngeal
Internal branch of superior laryngeal
Recurrent laryngeal

Question 2

External branch of superior laryngeal n

Answer 2

Branch of the vagus nerve that supplies motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle
Tenses the vocal cords

Question 3

Internal branch of superior laryngeal n

Answer 3

Branch of the vagus nerve that provides sensory innervation to the base of the tongue, epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds, and arytenoids
To block, the needle is inserted over the greater cornu of hyoid and directed in an anterior-caudal direction until it passes through the ligament.

Question 4

Recurrent laryngeal n

Answer 4

Sensory innervation to the vocal folds and trachea

Block by trans-tracheal technique, in which the needle is inserted perpendicularly through the cricothyroid membrane

Question 5

Glossopharyngeal n

Answer 5

Sensory innervation to the posterior third of the tongue, the vallecula, the anterior surface of the epiglottis, the walls of the pharynx, and the tonsils
Can be blocked at palatoglossal folds