Intraoperative Endobronchial Intubation After Successful Submental Intubation.

Area of Science:

• Maxillofacial Surgery
• Anesthesiology
• Airway Management

Background:

• Complex maxillofacial fractures often necessitate alternative airway management strategies when standard orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation is contraindicated.
• Tracheostomy and submental intubation (SMI) are recognized alternatives for securing the airway in such challenging cases.

Observation:

• This report details a case where submental intubation (SMI) was successfully employed for airway management during complex maxillofacial fracture repair.
• During the procedure, an inadvertent endobronchial intubation occurred, which was promptly identified and corrected.

Findings:

• Submental intubation (SMI) is a viable technique for airway management in specific maxillofacial trauma scenarios.
• Despite its utility, SMI is associated with potential intraoperative complications, such as accidental endobronchial intubation.

Implications:

• Awareness of potential complications like endobronchial intubation is crucial for surgeons utilizing submental intubation (SMI).
• Prompt recognition and management of such complications are essential for patient safety during maxillofacial surgery.
• Submental intubation (SMI) remains a valuable, albeit not risk-free, option for airway management in complex maxillofacial cases.