title: A modified submental orotracheal intubation.
abstract: In patients with concomitant occurrence of maxillofacial and basilar skull fractures, open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment. It requires intermittent intra operative dental occlusion which precludes oral or nasal intubation. In such cases submental intubation (SMI) is a recognized technique in practice. We describe a modified technique for smooth exteriorization of the endotracheal tube (ETT) during SMI. As the SMI technique is unusual for the performer, emphasis is laid on the applied aspects to minimize probable complications during the procedure. With the modified technique we performed SMI uneventfully on five patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Keelara Shivalingaiah
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Savitha
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Abha Rani
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kujur
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vikram
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joseph
keywords: Basilar skull fracture; maxillofacial injuries; submental intubation