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Modified glove fingers as an aid for safely navigating endotracheal tube through the nasal cavity and nasopharynx in difficult nasotracheal intubation
Abstract
A young female patient scheduled for orthognathic surgery under general anesthesia encountered obstacles during nasotracheal intubation in which the cuff of the nasal endotracheal tube was linearly lacerated and the tube tip impacted against the retropharyngeal wall. Repeated episodes of the event happened rendering the intubation unsuccessful. A technique using modified glove fingers was applied, which successfully protected the cuff from shearing by the sharp nasal crista and redirected the tube tip away from the retropharyngeal wall. It is a simple and applicable technique during nasotracheal intubation to prevent cuff damage and potential retropharyngeal dissection.
... It was found that the use of glove finger cover on the cuff of the nasal endotracheal tube reduced the trauma of the cuff and nasopharynx in cases of nasotracheal intubation. [12] In another article published in 2017 by Dr. Taheri talesh and colleagues on the effect of 2% nasal mupirocin ointment on the side effects of endotracheal intubation, it was finally concluded that the use of this ointment before intubation will reduce the complications of intubation such as comfortable extubation (removal of the tube after surgery), easier breathing following extubation and less severe bleeding following extubation. However, in terms of the frequency of bleeding during intubation, the difference There was no significant difference between the two groups but after extubation (tube extraction) the severity of epistaxis was higher in the group that did not use the ointment and there was a significant difference. ...
Background:
Different techniques have been introduced to reduce the complications of nasotracheal intubation. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of nasotracheal intubation complications in finger-guided and conventional methods.
Materials and methods:
In this double-blind randomized trial study, 70 patients who were candidates for oral and maxillofacial surgery who required nasal intubation were included in the study finally of which 33 patients with conventional method and 35 patients with finger-guided tubes in the nasopharynx were analyzed at the end of the study. Variables such as success rate, hemodynamic response, and complications of intubation were compared between the two groups.
Results:
There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of hemodynamic response to intubation (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of success in tracheal intubation (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of epistaxis immediately after intubation (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of nasal turbine fractures (P > 0.05). However, the frequency of submucosal intubation in the conventional method was significantly higher than the other group (P = 0.02).
Conclusion:
Nasotracheal intubation using the finger guiding technique in the nasopharynx is associated with a higher success rate and less complications after intubation such as epistaxis and submucosal intubation compared to the conventional method.
... Numerous case reports have described the management of ruptured tracheal tube cuffs during double lumen tube placement for thoracic surgery [4][5][6][7][8]. Management of the ruptured nasotracheal cuff using nasopharyngeal packing [9] to limit air leak for known difficult airways, or via application of retrievable finger cots or cut glove fingers to protect the tracheal tube cuff has also been described [10,11]. However, the application of a mobile body, even with retrieval sutures, is associated with the risk of aspiration or other complications [12]. ...
We describe the successful insertion of a nasotracheal tube following repeated cuff rupture. The patient was a 55-year-old woman with a history of nasal trauma and multiple rhinoplasties, who underwent elective Lefort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for correction of skeletal facial deformity. During fiberoptic bronchoscope-guided nasal intubation after the induction of general anesthesia, the tracheal tube repeatedly ruptured in both nares, despite extensive preparation of the nasal airways. We covered the cuff with a one-inch tape, intubated to the level of the oropharynx, pulled the tracheal tube out through the mouth, and removed the tape. The tracheal tube was then backed out to the level of the uvula, and was successfully advanced.
Tracheal intubation may pose problems in patients with cervical spine injury (CSI).In patients without CSI, the success rate of blind nasotracheal intubation is increased by endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff inflation in the pharynx. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of ETT cuff inflation in the pharynx as an aid to blind nasotracheal intubation in patients with an immobilized cervical spine. The technique was compared with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Twenty ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing elective surgery in which the trachea was to be intubated nasally were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study. The cervical spine of each patient was immobilized. The trachea of each patient was intubated twice, once using fiberoptic bronchoscopy and once blindly using the technique of ETT cuff inflation in the pharynx. A maximum of three attempts was allowed for intubation using ETT cuff inflation. A maximum of 3 min was allowed for intubation using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. When ETT cuff inflation was used, intubation was successful in 19 of 20 patients (95%); the first attempt at intubation was successful in 14 of 20 patients (70%). Intubation was successful in 19 of 20 patients (95%) when using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Mean times to intubate were 20.8 +/- 23 s when the ETT cuff was inflated in the pharynx and 60.1 +/- 56 s when using fiberoptic laryngoscopy (P < 0.01). We conclude that both ETT cuff inflation in the pharynx and fiberoptic bronchoscopy are valuable for nasotracheal intubation in patients with an immobilized cervical spine and that ETT cuff inflation can be used as an alternative to fiberoptic bronchoscopy in patients with CSI. Implications: We compared the technique of endotracheal tube cuff inflation in the pharynx for blind nasotracheal intubation in patients with an immobilized cervical spine with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. There was no significant difference between the success rates of the techniques. (Anesth Analg 1998;87:400-2)
Unlabelled:
Tracheal intubation may pose problems in patients with cervical spine injury (CSI). In patients without CSI, the success rate of blind nasotracheal intubation is increased by endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff inflation in the pharynx. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of ETT cuff inflation in the pharynx as an aid to blind nasotracheal intubation in patients with an immobilized cervical spine. The technique was compared with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Twenty ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing elective surgery in which the trachea was to be intubated nasally were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study. The cervical spine of each patient was immobilized. The trachea of each patient was intubated twice, once using fiberoptic bronchoscopy and once blindly using the technique of ETT cuff inflation in the pharynx. A maximum of three attempts was allowed for intubation using ETT cuff inflation. A maximum of 3 min was allowed for intubation using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. When ETT cuff inflation was used, intubation was successful in 19 of 20 patients (95%); the first attempt at intubation was successful in 14 of 20 patients (70%). Intubation was successful in 19 of 20 patients (95%) when using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Mean times to intubate were 20.8 +/- 23 s when the ETT cuff was inflated in the pharynx and 60.1 +/- 56 s when using fiberoptic laryngoscopy (P < 0.01). We conclude that both ETT cuff inflation in the pharynx and fiberoptic bronchoscopy are valuable for nasotracheal intubation in patients with an immobilized cervical spine and that ETT cuff inflation can be used as an alternative to fiberoptic bronchoscopy in patients with CSI.
Implications:
We compared the technique of endotracheal tube cuff inflation in the pharynx for blind nasotracheal intubation in patients with an immobilized cervical spine with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. There was no significant difference between the success rates of the techniques.
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.
Management of a difficult paediatric airway is challenging, and the unavailability of a paediatric fibreoptic bronchoscope, a common limitation in developing countries, adds to these difficulties. Children with bilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis have limited mouth opening and therefore direct laryngoscopy and intubation is not usually possible. In the absence of sophisticated fibreoptic equipment, blind nasal intubation remains the only non-surgical option for control of the airway. Blind nasal intubation in paediatric anaesthesia is difficult. We describe a novel method of blind nasal intubation in paediatric patients using a gum elastic bougie. We have used this method successfully in three patients in whom tracheal intubation using a conventional blind nasal approach was unsuccessful. In view of its reliability and the absence of any soft tissue injury, we propose the use of this novel technique as an alternative to conventional blind nasal intubation, when more sophisticated fibreoptic equipment is not available.
When nasotracheal intubation with a fiberoptic bronchoscope is performed, the tube may be blocked in the nasal cavity or larynx, resulting in several complications including epistaxis and hoarseness. We review the causes and complications of tube blockage and discuss optimal techniques for minimizing it.
Some anesthetists in Switzerland and elsewhere use a finger cot to protect the cuff of the endotracheal tube during nasotracheal intubation. In the presented report the finger cut was lost during the procedure and the patient presented 3 months later with a lateral neck mass. The finger cot was found within that mass at exploration. Apart from the other potential risks of this manoeuvre, this severe complication should incite caution against the practice described above.
In our hospital, twenty-one cases of endotracheal tube cuff rupture during naso-tracheal intubation were noted in cases using 725 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tracheal tubes. We analysed the causes of cuff troubles in these 21 samples of tubes. When the cuffs were inflated, they were not capable of containing the air in most cases. Some cuffs had small holes (described as pinholes), and the others had longer slits on scrape marks and burst. These scrape marks may have been caused by the object with sharp edges such as spina or crista of the nasal septum, or otherwise by the tip of intubation forceps. The cuff material appeared to be slightly hardened in some samples which may be due to the lubrication. We usually lubricated the tube with lidocaine spray or gel formulation and then sometimes placed it in hot water to soften it for avoiding naso-mucosal injury. It is not generally recommended to place tubes in hot water, as this procedure may soften the cuff and make it more suspectible to damage. The clarification is also needed on the use of lidocaine. Although the gel formulation is acceptable, but the spray formulation is known to react with cuff material and make it more susceptible to inducing blistering, pinholes and sudden rupture of PVC cuffs. We conclude that these cuff damages might have occurred from various causes. A main cause must be passing the tube through the narrow nasal turbinate with spina or crista. Other causes could not only be the use of Magill forceps but also lubrication of the tube with lidocaine spray and placing it in hot water.
Nasotracheal intubation carries potential risks, including nasal bleeding and other structural damage. We report a retropharyngeal dissection (or a false passage in the nasopharyngeal mucosa) during attempted nasotracheal intubation of a 54-year-old woman undergoing lower jaw reconstruction.