Ultrasound-guided glossopharyngeal nerve block for safe and effective anesthesia in a critically ill patient with acute myocardial infarction undergoing urgent endoscopy.

Ultrasound-guided glossopharyngeal nerve block via the peristyloid approach was used as the anesthetic technique for emergency gastroduodenal endoscopy in a 57-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction and gastrointestinal bleeding.

• Single-patient case report: a 57-year-old male with AMI and gastrointestinal bleeding who needed emergency endoscopy.
• UGPNB was performed to provide oropharyngeal anesthesia while minimizing the need for sedation.
• The peristyloid approach was used.

The block effectively suppressed the gag reflex and provided adequate procedural conditions for endoscopy.

• The abstract states the block "effectively suppressed the gag reflex and provided adequate procedural conditions."
• Sedation need was minimized rather than being the primary anesthetic strategy.

Hemodynamic stability was maintained during the procedure in the critically ill cardiac patient.

• The abstract reports the block was performed "while maintaining hemodynamic stability."
• This was relevant because conventional sedation or topical anesthesia carries respiratory and cardiovascular risks in AMI patients.

No procedure-related complications or adverse effects were observed, and the patient reported no discomfort after the procedure.

• Outcome from a single patient; no comparison group.
• The patient reported no discomfort following the procedure.

UGPNB may be useful when conventional sedation or topical anesthesia is undesirable because of respiratory or cardiovascular complication risk.

• GPNB can provide effective anesthesia for procedures involving the oropharynx and upper airway.
• The authors conclude UGPNB may be a useful alternative to sedation for endoscopy in high-risk cardiac patients.