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British Journal of Anaesthesia 84 (2): 257–9 (2000)
Retrograde nasotracheal intubation with a new tracheal tube: a
feasibility study
F. Agro
`
1
, J. Brimacombe
2
*, D. J. Doyle
34
, L. Marchionni
1
and R. Cataldo
1
1
Department of Anaesthesia, University School of Medicine Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy.
2
Department of
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Queensland, Cairns Base Hospital, The Esplanade, Cairns
4870, Australia.
3
Department of Anaesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
4
The Toronto
Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*Corresponding author
We have assessed the feasibility of retrograde nasotracheal intubation using a flexometallic
tracheal tube with a detachable pilot balloon and connector in a study of 20 consecutive adult
patients undergoing oropharyngeal surgery. The technique consisted of: (1) laryngoscope-
guided orotracheal intubation; (2) insertion of an 18-gauge Foley catheter through the nose
and retraction into the mouth; (3) detachment of the anaesthesia circuit, pilot balloon and
connector; (4) insertion of the Foley catheter tip into the proximal end of the tracheal tube
and inflation of the Foley catheter cuff; (5) withdrawal of the Foley catheter and attached
tracheal tube back through the nose; (6) deflation of the Foley catheter cuff; and (7) re-
attachment of the pilot balloon, connector and anaesthesia circuit. The technique was successful
at the first attempt in all patients. Mean time taken to insert the Foley catheter and retract it
into the mouth was 19 (range 12–30) s. Mean time taken from disconnection to reconnection
of the anaesthesia circuit was 8 (6–10) s. Heart rate increased after intubation, but there were
no significant changes in arterial pressure. Nasal bleeding, airway problems and hypoxic events
did not occur. No anatomical abnormalities or nasal trauma were detected at rhinoscopy. We
conclude that retrograde nasotracheal intubation is feasible using a flexometallic tracheal tube
with a detachable pilot balloon and connector.
Br J Anaesth 2000; 84: 257–9
Keywords: equipment, Foley catheter; equipment, tubes tracheal; intubation nasotracheal,
technique; surgery, oropharyngeal
Accepted for publication: August 17, 1999
Conversion of oral to nasotracheal intubation usually had a predicted or known difficult airway or had nasal
pathology. The patency of each nostril was tested by asking
involves passage of a second tracheal tube through the nose
the patient to sniff. Premedication comprised midazolam
and removal of the orotracheal tube. Limitations of this
0.04 mg kg
–1
i.v., approximately 30 min before anaesthesia.
technique are that direct laryngoscopy is required and the
Standard monitoring was applied, including an ECG, pulse
airway is not protected during the exchange. We considered
oximeter, capnograph, non-invasive arterial pressure mon-
that retrograde nasal passage of the proximal portion of an
itor and a peripheral nerve stimulator. Xylometazoline 0.1%
orally placed tracheal tube might be better if a suitable
vasoconstrictor nasal spray was applied to each nostril.
tracheal tube were available. We have assessed the feasibility
Anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl 3 µgkg
–1
and
of retrograde nasotracheal intubation in 20 anaesthetized
propofol 3 mg kg
–1
and maintained with 1.5% isoflurane
patients using a new flexometallic tracheal tube which has
and 67% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Neuromuscular block
a detachable pilot balloon and connector.
was produced with vecuronium 0.1 mg kg
–1
.
Laryngoscope-guided orotracheal intubation was per-
Methods and results
formed when the train-of-four count was one or less
We studied 20 consecutive adult patients requiring nasal
using a flexible tracheal tube with a detachable pilot
intubation for elective oropharyngeal surgery after obtaining
balloon and connector (Agro Tube, Dar-Mallinckrodt,
approval from the Ethics Committee and written informed
Modena, Italy) (Fig. 1). A size 7.5 tracheal tube was
used for females and a size 8.0 for males. Two consultantconsent. Patients were excluded if they were less than 18 yr,
© The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia 2000
Agro
`
et al.
catheter to disconnection of the anaesthesia circuit; and
(3) time from disconnection to reconnection of the
anaesthesia circuit.
Heart rate and arterial pressure were recorded immedi-
ately before the Foley catheter was inserted and immedi-
ately after retrograde nasal intubation was complete.
Nasal bleeding, airway problems or hypoxic events (Sp
O
2
⬍95%) were documented. The tracheal tube was removed
at the end of surgery when the patient was awake.
Bilateral rhinoscopy was performed in both nostrils before
intubation and after extubation. Statistical analysis was
performed using the paired t test. Significance was taken
as P⬍0.05.
Mean age, height and weight were 42 (range 20–68)
yr, 178 (168–185) cm and 75 (58–90) kg, respectively.
The male:female ratio was 16:4. Intubation was successful
at the first attempt in all patients. There was no resistance
felt during retrograde passage of the tracheal tube. The
mean time taken to insert the Foley catheter and pull it
from the mouth was 19 (range 12–30) s. Mean time
from disconnection to reconnection of the anaesthesia
circuit was 8 (6–10) s. Duration of surgery was 97 (45–
180) min. Mean heart rate increased (72 (
SD
11) vs 81
(16) beat min
–1
; P⫽0.05), but no significant changes
were noted in systolic (120 (23) vs 123 (15) mm Hg)
or diastolic (63 (10) vs 68 (10) mm Hg) arterial pressures.
There were no episodes of nasal bleeding, airway
problems or hypoxic events. No anatomical abnormalities
or nasal trauma were detected at rhinoscopy.
Fig 1 The proximal end of the flexible tracheal tube with detachable pilot
Comment
tube and balloon.
We found that retrograde nasal intubation was feasible in
anaesthetized patients using a tracheal tube with a detachableanaesthetists who had practised the technique on manikins
and cadavers before the study performed all insertions. tube and pilot balloon. Epistaxis has been noted in 5–80%
1
and mucosal bruising in 54%
2
of nasally intubated patients.An 18-gauge Foley catheter was inserted into the most
patent nostril and retracted into the mouth using Magill’s We observed no cases of epistaxis or mucosal bruising, but
our small sample size means that the true incidence of theseforceps. The anaesthesia circuit, pilot balloon and con-
nector were detached from the tracheal tube. The tip of and other complications is unknown. Retrograde nasal
intubation may be useful where mid-surgery conversionthe Foley catheter was inserted into the proximal end of
the tracheal tube and the Foley catheter balloon was of oral to nasotracheal intubation is planned (e.g. major
maxillofacial surgery) or might be required (e.g. malocclu-inflated with saline to grip the inner walls of the tracheal
tube. The Foley catheter was then gently withdrawn from sion testing after molar teeth extraction). It may also be
useful if conventional anterograde nasotracheal intubationthe nose while guiding the tracheal tube into the mouth
with a finger. When the tracheal tube started to emerge has failed because an unfavourable angle of approach causes
repeated impaction of the tracheal tube tip against thefrom the nose it was held in the oropharynx between
two fingers or with Magill’s forceps while it was pulled anterior glottis or trachea.
Possible advantages over conventional nasotrachealout to length. Saline was withdrawn from the balloon,
the catheter removed, and the pilot balloon, connector intubation are a lower incidence of trauma to the posterior
pharyngeal wall and a lower incidence of tracheal tubeand anaesthesia circuit re-attached. A nurse assisted with
retrograde intubation by handing equipment to the obstruction caused by impaction of mucus or nasal tissues.
3
Potential disadvantages are that retrograde nasal intubationanaesthetist and inflating the cuff. The anaesthetist
documented any resistance felt during withdrawal of the requires use of a specific tracheal tube and that accidental
extubation is possible during withdrawal of the Foleytracheal tube through the nose. A second anaesthetist
recorded: (1) the number of attempts taken to successful catheter or while manoeuvring the tracheal tube in the
oropharynx. A potential disadvantage of a detachable pilotinsertion; (2) time taken from insertion of the Foley
258
Retrograde nasotracheal intubation
balloon is a leak from the junction, but this was not
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Acknowledgements
3 Cohen SP, Anderson PL. Mucoid impaction following nasal
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We thank Dr Federico Claro and Dr Mario Martucci for assistance with
the manuscript.
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259
