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Submental Intubation in Maxillofacial Surgery: A Prospective Study

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Abstract

We designed a prospective study with the objective to evaluate the efficacy, indications and our experience of submental intubation in different types of maxillofacial surgeries. From May 2008 to August 2010, 23 patients with different conditions were intubated by submental route of tracheal intubation and patients were evaluated on different parameters during and after surgery to find its efficacy, indications and utilization in maxillofacial surgeries. All the patients were managed well with this technique of intubation with no significant difference in intubation and extubation time. We did not face any uneventful complication. There was only one reported complication that is rupture of the bulb of cuffed flexometallic tube but was managed well by changing tube. We found skull base access surgery as a new indication for submental intubation. The submental route for endotracheal intubation may be utilized as an alternative to blind nasal intubation or tracheostomy in the surgical management of patients involving complex maxillofacial surgeries. We hypothesized that the submental intubation should not be used where long term ventilation support is needed. We did a technique modification to deliver the endotracheal tube out from the submental region to avoid pilot cuff damage. Our study proposes that skull base access surgery is a safe and potential indication for submental intubation. In our experience submental intubation is a simple, secure and effective procedure for operative airway control in major maxillofacial surgeries.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the participation of Dr. Gaikwad, (HOD) and the members of the Department of Anesthesiology, People’s College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhanpur, Bhopal for their support. This study did not draw support from any individual or institution.

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Author notes

  1. Shaji Thomas & Yuvaraj Vaithilingam

    Present address: , HIG 6, Staff Quarter, People’s Campus, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

  2. Rishi Thukral

    Present address: , C-79, New Minal Residency, J.K. Road, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, People’s College of Dental Sciences and Research Center, Bhopal, Bhanpur, 462 037, India

    Shaji Thomas, Yuvaraj Vaithilingam, Prabhu Sundararaman & Rishi Thukral

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Kalitheerthalkuppam, Pondicherry(Union Territory), 605006, India

    Sanjay Pasupathy

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  1. Shaji Thomas
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  2. Yuvaraj Vaithilingam
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Correspondence to Shaji Thomas.

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Thomas, S., Vaithilingam, Y., Sundararaman, P. et al. Submental Intubation in Maxillofacial Surgery: A Prospective Study. J. Maxillofac. Oral Surg. 12, 248–253 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-012-0432-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-012-0432-0

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