Resurgence of blind nasal intubation with videolaryngoscopy as a guide for head maneuvers in the course of nasotracheal intubation in panfacial fracture patients with severely restricted mouth opening

Abstract

u Majority of the patients with pan facial fractures have severe limitation of mouth opening, particularly involving the zygoma and the angle of mandible. u Airway management is challenging in these cases, especially if mouth opening is less than 20 mm 1 . u Awake nasal fiberoptic intubation is the standard technique of airway management in these patients posted for reduction of faciomaxillary and mandibular fractures. u However, in case of failed fiberoptic due to bleeding, particularly in panfacial trauma, the only option of securing the airway left is the surgical one. u Blind nasal intubation can act as a bridge between a failed fiberscope attempt and a surgical airway, but it has become a dying art in present scenario 2 .