[Clinical use of long-term nasotracheal intubation]

Clinical data are presented on prolonged (3 to 63 days) nasotracheal intubation in 159 patients performed for controlled lung ventilation and for maintenance of upper respiratory ways patency in spontaneous respiration. The advantages and disadvantages of nasotracheal intubation as compared to tracheostomy and orotracheal intubation are analysed. The indications for delayed tracheostomy, ways of prevention of complications of prolonged nasotracheal intubation and a method for maintenance of intubation tube patency are suggested.