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Background and Aims: Airway management in anaesthesia for maxillofacial surgical procedures is tricky at times when the nasal/oral routes are contraindicated or are impossible. Tracheostomy as an alternative inherits its own complications. We present a case series of the submandibular route for tracheal intubation as an alternative. Methods: The procedure was performed in ten selected adult patients with maxillofacial/mandibular fractures associated with a fracture of skull base or nasal bone. All of them were medically stable with no need of intensive care or mechanical ventilation in post-operative period. Results: Submandibular intubation in all ten patients of panfacial fractures allowed uninterrupted surgical techniques with a secured airway. All patients were reverted to oro-tracheal tube at the end of surgery as immediate maxillomandibular fixation was not necessary. The patients were extubated after recovery from anaesthesia before they left the operating theatre. One patient in the post-operative period had a superficial infection of incision site that responded well to local treatment. No other complications were encountered in the intra-operative or post-operative period. Conclusion: In complex maxillofacial injuries, when oral or nasal intubation hampers surgeon′s field of view, submandibular intubation offers an effective alternative to short-term tracheostomy along with small risk potential. There is a need to emphasise its regular application in such cases so that technique can be mastered by both surgeons and anaesthesiologist.

Intubating a patient with panfacial fractures is always a challenge to the anaesthesiologist. In a 40-yr-old male patient with left Le Fort′s III fracture with nasal bone and symphysis menti fracture, we successfully carried out oral endotracheal intubation which was then modified to submandibular approach to provide adequate surgical field. Initially oral endotracheal intubation was performed, then an incision was made in the submandibular region through which the endotracheal tube was brought out and maintained as submandibular approach throughout the surgery.

Background and Aims: Airway management in anaesthesia for maxillofacial surgical procedures is tricky at times when the nasal/oral routes are contraindicated or are impossible. Tracheostomy as an alternative inherits its own complications. We present a case series of the submandibular route for tracheal intubation as an alternative. Methods: The procedure was performed in ten selected adult patients with maxillofacial/mandibular fractures associated with a fracture of skull base or nasal bone. All of them were medically stable with no need of intensive care or mechanical ventilation in post-operative period. Results: Submandibular intubation in all ten patients of panfacial fractures allowed uninterrupted surgical techniques with a secured airway. All patients were reverted to oro-tracheal tube at the end of surgery as immediate maxillomandibular fixation was not necessary. The patients were extubated after recovery from anaesthesia before they left the operating theatre. One patient in the post-operative period had a superficial infection of incision site that responded well to local treatment. No other complications were encountered in the intra-operative or post-operative period. Conclusion: In complex maxillofacial injuries, when oral or nasal intubation hampers surgeon's field of view, submandibular intubation offers an effective alternative to short-term tracheostomy along with small risk potential. There is a need to emphasise its regular application in such cases so that technique can be mastered by both surgeons and anaesthesiologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 20-year-old male who was admitted to the emergency room after he encountered motor vehicle accident against the wall. It states that the patient sustained multiple fractures of the face and left radius and ulna from the accident. It highlights the success of submental intubation of patients who underwent oral maxillofacial trauma surgery.

Abstract: Since the mid of eighties of the last century, submental (S-MEN) and submandibular (S-MAN) intubation(s) are practiced worldwide. It is an easy technique, has certain indications and limited complications. In our case series, S-MAN was useful in reducing the time of the old nasal technique and then followed by the oral intubation technique and herein reducing the risk of aspiration and hypoxia. We are presenting its applications for the first time in our medical facility in maxillofacial surgery in six patients with a short description of the technique that was modified over the years and the outcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Intubating a patient with panfacial fractures is always a challenge to the anaesthesiologist. In a 40-yr-old male patient with left Le Fort's III fracture with nasal bone and symphysis menti fracture, we successfully carried out oral endotracheal intubation which was then modified to submandibular approach to provide adequate surgical field. Initially oral endotracheal intubation was performed, then an incision was made in the submandibular region through which the endotracheal tube was brought out and maintained as submandibular approach throughout the surgery.