Impact of Nasal Intubation Tube Design on Nasal Morphology in Orthognathic Surgery: a Comparative Study

This study compared the effects of two different intubation tube designs used in orthognathic surgery on nasal morphology alterations, utilizing three-dimensional imaging.

Three-dimensional facial scanning (3DFS) images obtained from 22 patients preoperatively (T0) and at six months postoperatively (T1) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the type of the intubation tube used (Group I: Cuffed Reinforced Endotracheal Tube; Group II: North Polar Endotracheal Tube (Portex® North Polar tube)). Following the identification of reference anatomical landmarks, nasal soft tissue measurements were conducted.

In Group I, a significant difference in right nostril axis was found between T0 and T1 (p = 0,038). Intragroup analysis of the right and left Nasal-Alar (N-A) angles revealed significant changes between T0 and T1 measurements. At T1, the right N-A angles in Group I were significantly different from those in Group II (53.00 ± 4.77 vs. 48.72 ± 4.70, respectively; p = 0.047). The right-left nostril width difference was statistically greater in Group I compared to Group II at T1 (median values 154; 60, respectively).

The design and material of the intubation tube should be considered a contributing factor that may influence the nasal morphology.