Resumo

NETO, Patricio et al. Use of Submental Intubation in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2008, vol.46, n.1, pp.77-80. ISSN 0001-6365.

Different endotracheal intubation methods are available for airway maintenance during surgical treatment of patients who have severe maxillofacial fracture. When the nasotracheal as well as the orotracheal intubation methods are not indicated, the endotracheal intubation through the submental route is a useful alternative for such patients who have had a severe trauma in their face in which the maxilomandibular intraoperatory is required. Such technique allows the accomplishment of the intermaxilary fixation during the surgery, which is essential in order to get an excellent  result concerning the reduction and fixation of face bone fractures, avoiding this way, the tracheotomy and its complications. The aim of the present research is to report the case of a patient who was victim of a car accident and who presented nasal pyramid fracture, which contraindicated the nasotracheal intubation, besides other fractures in the midface.  The orotracheal intubation would not be viable due to the necessity of reestablishing occlusion of the patient using intermaxilary fixation during the transoperatory. This way the submental intubation technique was indicated for the surgical treatment of this case. In this article we are going to describe and discuss the clinical use of such procedure.

Palavras-chave : Intubation; Multiple Trauma; Airway; Intermaxillary Fixation.