[Submental tracheal intubation is an alternative to tracheostomy in oral surgery].

A prospective study was performed in 17 patients who had undergone submental tracheal intubation in facial injury, tumors of the upper jaw, and congenital and acquired deformities of the facial skeleton. The time required for intubation, and the adequacy of gas exchange and ventilation during tracheal intubation and an operation was estimated. Submental intubation was successfully carried out in all the patients. The mean time spent on tracheal intubation was 5-6 min. At surgery, there was no chance extubation or endotracheal tube damage, the parameters of ventilation and gas exchange remained to be within the normal range. A submental scar was minimal. There was inflammation and formation of a bad scar or bleeding at the site of intubation in none case. Submental orotracheal intubation is a safe and simple procedure for airway patency and it may be used as an alternative to tracheostomy in maxillofacial injury, tumors of the upper jaw, and congenital and acquired deformities of the facial skeleton.