Prolonged orotracheal intubation in the newborn.

One hundred seventy-four consecutive cases of newborn infants who required orotracheal intubation for longer than three days were studied retrospectively. The duration of intubation varied from 3 to 211 days with an overall mortality rate of 22.9%. There was one complication directly related to orotracheal intubation. One tracheotomy was performed. Orotracheal intubation is felt to be superior to nasal tracheal intubation and tracheotomy in managing infants in this age group who require prolonged assisted ventilation.