• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.39-43
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• 2023

Nasotracheal intubation is commonly performed under general anesthesia in oral and maxillofacial surgery. For the convenience of surgery, nasal Ring-Adair-Elwyn (RAE) tubes are mainly used. Because the nasal RAE tubes were bent in an "L" shape, the insertion depth was limited. Particularly, it is necessary to accurately determine the appropriate depth of the RAE tubes in children. Several types of nasal RAE tubes are used in the medical market, which vary in material and length. We performed endotracheal intubation using a nasal RAE tube for double-jaw surgery, but air leakage persisted even when the air pressure in the cuff was increased. When checked with a laryngoscope, it was confirmed that the tube was pushed out, and the cuff was caught on the vocal cords, causing air leakage. Since inserting the tube deeply did not solve the problem, replacing it with a nasal RAE tube (Polar^TM, Preformed Tracheal Tube, Smith Medical, Inc., USA) did not cause air leakage; thus, we reported this case.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.45-47
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• 2020

Endotracheal tube damage is a well-known complication of maxillary surgery. We report a case of failure to ventilate due to superficial damage to the tubing between the cuff and pilot balloon in the nasal portion of a north facing Ring, Adair and Elwyn pre-formed endotracheal tube during Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion surgery. The endotracheal tube was replaced uneventfully and surgery completed successfully. On reflection, we feel that that the vulnerable position of the cuff-pilot tubing significantly contributed to this critical incident and suggest that increased recognition of this is vital for the prevention of such cases in the future.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.307-312
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• 2017

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the optimal depth of nasotracheal tube placement. Methods: We enrolled 110 patients scheduled to undergo oral and maxillofacial surgery, requiring nasotracheal intubation. After intubation, the depth of tube insertion was measured. The neck circumference and distances from nares to tragus, tragus to angle of the mandible, and angle of the mandible to sternal notch were measured. To estimate optimal tube depth, correlation and regression analyses were performed using clinical and anthropometric parameters. Results: The mean tube depth was $28.9{\pm}1.3cm$ in men (n = 62), and $26.6{\pm}1.5cm$ in women (n = 48). Tube depth significantly correlated with height (r = 0.735, P < 0.001). Distances from nares to tragus, tragus to angle of the mandible, and angle of the mandible to sternal notch correlated with depth of the endotracheal tube (r = 0.363, r = 0.362, and r = 0.546, P < 0.05). The tube depth also correlated with the sum of these distances (r = 0.646, P < 0.001). We devised the following formula for estimating tube depth: $19.856+0.267{\times}sum$ of the three distances ($R^2=0.432$, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The optimal tube depth for nasotracheally intubated adult patients correlated with height and sum of the distances from nares to tragus, tragus to angle of the mandible, and angle of the mandible to sternal notch. The proposed equation would be a useful guide to determine optimal nasotracheal tube placement.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-17
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• 2024

The video laryngoscope is a novel instrument for intubation that enables indirect visualization of the upper airway. It is recognized for its ability to enhance Cormack-Lehane grades in the management of difficult airways. Notably, video laryngoscopy is associated with equal or higher rates of intubation success within a shorter time frame than direct laryngoscopy. Video laryngoscopy facilitates faster and easier visualization of the glottis and reduces the need for Magill forceps, thereby shortening the intubation time. Despite the advanced glottic visualization afforded by video laryngoscopy, nasotracheal tube insertion and advancement occasionally fail. This is particularly evident during nasotracheal intubation, where oropharyngeal blood or secretions may obstruct the visual field on the monitor, thereby complicating video laryngoscopy. Moreover, the use of Magill forceps is markedly challenging or nearly unfeasible in this context, especially in pediatric cases. Furthermore, the substantial blade size of video laryngoscopes may restrict their applicability in individuals with limited oral apertures. This study aimed to review the literature on video laryngoscopy, discuss its clinical role in nasotracheal intubation, and address the challenges that anesthesiologists may encounter during the intubation process.