The Journal of craniofacial surgery
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Case Reports
Submental endotracheal intubation: a valuable resource for the management of panfacial fractures.
Modern techniques for surgical treatment of midfacial and panfacial fractures in maxillofacial trauma lead to special problems for airway management. Usually, in perioperative management of panfacial fractures, the surgeon needs to control the dental occlusion and nasal pyramid assessment. For these reasons, oral and nasal endotracheal intubations are contraindicated for the management of panfacial fractures. ⋯ The submental route for endotracheal intubation has been proposed as an alternative to tracheotomy in the surgical management of patients with panfacial fractures, besides it is accompanied by low morbidity. Thus, this paper aimed to describe the submental endotracheal intubation technique in a patient experiencing panfacial fracture. The subject was well treated using the submental endotracheal intubation to get good reconstruction of the fractures because the authors obtained free access of all facial fractures.
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The design of a diving regulator's mouthpiece increases the risk of a temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in scuba divers. The total weight of a diving regulator is reflected directly on the temporomandibular joint, causing articular and periarticular disorders. In the current study, the prevalence of TMD in scuba divers triggered during diving certification training is investigated. ⋯ Thirteen divers had an improvement with therapy. The increased effort for stabilizing the mouthpiece is a recognized factor in TMD development. Attention must be paid to an association of scuba diving with TMDs, especially in inexperienced divers having a scuba certification training.
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A self-retaining Dingman mouth retractor is widely used to keep the mouth open during cleft palate and intraoral surgery. The airway is at risk of being crushed or occluded as the gag (tongue plate) of the Dingman mouth retractor is being pushed against the endotracheal tube. ⋯ To minimize kinking of the endotracheal tube and its consequent complications, we routinely insert an 18-gauge needle cap at the potential space between the teeth and the tongue plate (gag) of the Dingman mouth retractor, which is situated lateral to the endotracheal tube. In our experience of approximately 5000 intraoral cases using a Dingman mouth retractor and 18-gauge needle cap, we have not had any tooth avulsion or aspiration of the 18-gauge foreign body while maintaining a consistent and secured airway during cleft palate and intraoral surgery.
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Urban violence continues to be an important source of penetrating craniofacial injuries in major trauma centers. Gunshot wounds to the mandible are a commonly treated condition by craniofacial surgeons. Some gunshot wounds are through-and-through injuries, but in many patients, the bullet enters with no visible exit wound. ⋯ We present a case of a patient who had a gunshot wound to the face with comminuted mandibular ramus fracture in which the bullet was unexpectedly found to be aspirated down the right mainstem bronchus. This is the first reported case of a completely intact bullet being aspirated after gunshot wound to the face in an adult patient. We present this case to illustrate a rare possible complication after penetrating mandibular injury and offer a strategy for management of such an occurrence.