The incidence of difficult airway is higher in patients undergoing ENT surgery and, specifically, in patients undergoing ENT cancer surgery. Even the process of topicalization with local anesthetic can precipitate loss of the airway, as can some of the complications associated with awake intubation (e.g. airway bleeding and laryngospasm). The preoperative interview should also address the possibility of events having occurred since the last anesthetic such as weight gain, laryngeal stenosis from previous airway intervention, airway radiation, facial cosmetic surgery, and worsening temporomandibular joint disorder or rheumatoid arthritis. Prior to awake intubation, premedication is commonly used to reduce secretions, enable adequate topicalization of the airway, reduce the risk of epistaxis, and protect against the risk of aspiration. Depending on the clinical circumstance, intravenous sedation may be useful in allowing the patient to tolerate awake intubation by providing anxiolysis, amnesia, and analgesia.