Submental Intubation

A Useful Alternative Technique of Endotracheal Intubation in Maxillofacial Surgery

Abstract

A case report of a healthy 19 –year-old woman presented with nasal and left zygomatic fractures, as well as left maxillary fracture (LeFort II). Patient was scheduled for open reduction and internal fixation with miniplate for zygomatic fractures, closed reduction for nasal fractures and nose packing, closed reduction with right circumzygomatic sling and left craniofacial suspension for maxillary fractures. Nasal intubation can interfere with centralization and stabilization of nasal fractures. An orotracheal tube may obstructed intraoral surgical field. Tracheostomy may lead to severe complications. To avoid hazards of tracheostomy, submental intubation, an alternative technique for perioperative airway control, was chosen for the operation with a good result and no complication.