• G Caron, R Paquin, M R Lessard, C A Trépanier, and P E Landry.
• Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Affilié Universitaire de Québec, Laval University, Canada.
• J Trauma. 2000 Feb 1;48(2):235-40.

BackgroundThe submental route for endotracheal intubation has been proposed as an alternative to tracheotomy in the surgical management of patients with maxillofacial trauma. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with this procedure.MethodsMedical records of 25 patients who had surgical reduction of midfacial or panfacial fractures while securing their airway with submental intubation were reviewed. After standard orotracheal intubation, a passage was created by blunt dissection with a hemostat clamp through the floor of the mouth in the submental area. The proximal end of the orotracheal tube was pulled through the submental incision. Surgery was completed with minimal interference from the endotracheal tube. At the end of surgery, the tube was pulled back to the usual oral route.ResultsMean duration of surgery was 7.9 hours (range, 2-16 hours). Mean duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation was 5.2 days (range, 1-24 days). Fourteen of these patients required prolonged (>24 hours) postoperative mechanical ventilation because of associated injuries. Two patients later required a tracheotomy because of prolonged respiratory failure. One patient died of multiple organ failure. One complication of the submental intubation was observed: a superficial infection of the submental wound.ConclusionSubmental intubation is a simple technique associated with a low morbidity. It is an attractive alternative to tracheotomy in the surgical management of selected cases of maxillofacial trauma.

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