SUBMENTAL OROTRACHEAL INTUBATION IN EXTENSIVE MAXILLOFACIAL TRAUMA: A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO TRACHEOSTOMY

PRAVEEN R; Rathna Paramaswamy

Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2019

SUBMENTAL OROTRACHEAL INTUBATION IN EXTENSIVE MAXILLOFACIAL TRAUMA: A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO TRACHEOSTOMY

Praveen R, Rathna Paramaswamy

Abstract :

Faciomaxillary injuries are very common following trauma, specifically following road traffic accidents. Such patients require surgical stabilization and fixation of the fractures. Submental intubation is a better alternative to tracheostomy, especially when short–term postoperative control of airway is desirable with the presence of undisturbed access to oral as well as nasal airways and a good dental occlusion. Here, we opted for the sub–mental endotracheal intubation and patient was extubated successfully and was hemodynamically stable. Our case report re–establishes that submental intubation is a useful alternativeof airway management in patients with panfacial fractures. It demands a certain surgical skill without specialized equipments; however, it is safe and quick to execute. It allows intraoperative correction of occlusion and enables surgery for associated nasal fracture in the event of concomitant skull base trauma, and avoids complications associated with tracheostomy.