A modified method of submental oroendotracheal intubation.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this paper is to present a modification of submental intubation in the management of airway. METHODS Following usual oroendotracheal intubation, the tube and cuff are exteriorized through a laterosubmental incision, and connected to the anesthetic machine. RESULTS Ten patients comprising 8 panfacial fractures and 2 orthognathic surgical cases have successfully been managed with this approach. There were no complications, no morbidity, and the scar was inconspicuous and esthetically pleasing. CONCLUSIONS The laterosubmental intubation technique is simple, efficacious in the management of severe maxillofacial injuries, orthognathic surgical cases with nasal obstruction and in plastic surgery for concomitant approach to rhytidectomy, lip correction and rhinoplasty. This approach deserves to be widely propagated among specialists working on the face.