Ultrasound-guided seldinger technique-assisted submental intubation for panfacial trauma-walking off the beaten path

After introduction of ultrasound, there is paradigm shift towards under vision performance of procedures in anaesthesia. Blind puncture and dissection of submental space may lead to vascular injury and injury to salivary glands. We describe the ultrasound guided Seldinger technique assisted submental intubation for panfacial trauma.

Modified ultrasound guided Seldinger technique for submental intubation in 10 patients, who were posted for open reduction and fixation of panfacial fractures. Total procedural time, peri-procedural complications such as bleeding, dislodgment of tube, desaturation and postoperative complications such as injury to sublingual glands/submandibular glands, hematoma, cheloid or hypertrophic scar formation or skin site infection were noted.

The mean time to perform submental intubation was 8.9 ± 0.94 minutes (range, 8-11 minutes). Only one patient had minor bleeding during procedure which was stopped after local application of pressure. All patients had a clean scar with no formation of cheloid or hypertrophic scar in the postoperative follow up.

Ultrasound assisted submental intubation increases safety of the procedure in patients presenting with maxilla-facial trauma.