Submental intubation is used in patients with maxillofacial trauma to enable free intraoperative access to the dental occlusion and nasolabial complex. Orthognathic surgery is usually performed with nasotracheal intubation to prevent the tube from interfering with occlusion.
We used submental intubation in 2 cases of orthognathic surgery in which nasotracheal intubation was impossible. One patient was a 17-year-old male with maxillary hypoplasia associated with left cleft lip and palate. He had a pharyngeal flap precluding nasal tube placement. The other patient was 18-year-old female with facial hamartoma and jaw deformity. The hamartoma obstructed her nasal cavity.
The surgery proceeded uneventfully and there were no complications. Submental intubation is a useful method not only for patients with maxillofacial trauma, but also in selected cases of orthognathic surgery.
