[Modified submental endotracheal intubation in concurrent orthognathic surgery].
BACKGROUND
In 1986 Altemir described a method of submental endotracheal intubation in order to avoid tracheostomy in maxillofacial trauma cases where short-term intermaxillary fixation was required. His method has become widely established for airway maintenance in midfacial fractures.


METHODS
We present a 21-year-old male patient with cleft lip and palate on the left side. The patient underwent Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy. Nasal intubation was impossible due to nasal malformation. In this case we used submental endotracheal intubation for airway maintenance. We introduced new methods: a sterile nylon guiding tube and our new "2-2-2 rule" incision to make the procedure easier.


RESULTS
The occlusion could be checked easily. There were no complications during and after the operation. The submental wound healed nicely.


CONCLUSIONS
The described case shows that the technique is easy to use compared to "alternative" intubation methods. Submental scarring is acceptable. We recommend the technique for orthognathic use.
Nyárády
Z
Z
Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Pécs, Hungary. zoltan.nyarady@aok.pte.hu
Sári
F
F
Olasz
L
L
Nyárády
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002680:Chin; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology