Inspection of the nasopharynx prior to fiberoptic-guided nasotracheal intubation reduces the risk epistaxis.
BACKGROUND
Various complications may occur during nasotracheal intubation. This may include epistaxis and damage to the nasopharyngeal airway. We tested the hypothesis that the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB)-guided intubation is superior to endotracheal tube (ETT) obturated with an inflated esophageal stethoscope.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (n=22 each): either an FOB-guided intubation group or ETT obturated with an inflated esophageal stethoscope group. After the induction of general anesthesia, patients in the FOB group received an FOB inspection through the nostril without advancement of ETT. Then, after confirming the placement of the bronchoscope tip in the trachea, the lubricated ETT was advanced via the nostril to the trachea along the bronchoscope. In the obturated ETT insertion group, the proximal opening of the ETT was blunted with an inflated esophageal stethoscope. The ETT was inserted into the selected nostril and advanced blindly into the posterior oropharynx. Then, the esophageal stethoscope was removed and tracheal intubation was performed with the bronchoscope. The number of attempts for successful tracheal intubation, the degree of difficulty during insertion, and bleeding during bronchoscopy were recorded. Another anesthesiologist, blinded to the intubation method, estimated the severity of epistaxis 5minutes after the intubation and postoperative complications.


RESULTS
The FOB group had significantly less epistaxis during bronchoscopy, better navigability, and fewer intubation attempts and redirections.


CONCLUSIONS
Fiberoptic-guided nasotracheal intubation was associated with less epistaxis. It also showed better navigability and less redirection rate. Therefore, FOB as an intubation guide is superior to ETT with an inflated esophageal stethoscope when intubating a patient via the nasotracheal route.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea. Electronic address: mmauss@hanmail.net.
Min A
MA
Kwon
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea. Electronic address: drjack@nate.com.
Jaegyok
J
Song
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea. Electronic address: skkim@dankook.ac.kr.
Seokkon
S
Kim
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea. Electronic address: jsmsmile@naver.com.
Seong-Mi
SM
Ji
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea. Electronic address: genebrz@hanmail.net.
Jeongho
J
Bae
D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D009305:Nasopharynx
Bronchoscopes; Epistaxis; Intratracheal intubation; Nasal cavity