Introduction

Various treatment modalities for panfacial fracture management are conservative with splints, closed reduction, external fixators, open reduction with internal fixation using screws and plates, bone grafts etc. Surgical repair of maxillofacial trauma requires modification of the standard anaesthesia techniques. Oral, nasal intubation and tracheostomy is the established method for the management of airway. But most of the time oral intubation not possible if dental occlusion is surgical necessity₁, nasal intubation is contraindicated because of associated Leforte's fractures₂, and tracheostomy is not preferred because of its complications₉. So we were in search of other ways to manage the airway. Mode of intubation in such cases is a controversial issue. Submental intubation has solved the problem. Submental intubation is an useful alternative to tracheostomy with minimal complications in these conditions₇. This technique does not compromise the airway.

The aims of the study was to find out the possible ways of airway management and complications encountered. Inclusion criteria were all faciomaxillary trauma that came for surgery. Exclusion criteria were all soft tissue injury treated on OPD basis.

Materials and methods

The medical records of 241 patients who underwent elective surgeries for maxillofacial injuries from August 2002 to July 2005 in the department of plastic surgery, KEM hospital were reviewed.

Airway access techniques were Oral intubation, Nasal intubation, Submental intubation and Tracheostomy.

The following variables were also observed in our study

• Trauma during the procedure, accidental extubation, postoperative complications (hemorrhage, injury to sublingual glands, wharton's duct or lingual nerve, orotracheal fistula and infection) and healing of scars.

Techniques of airway access

Observation And Results

Figure 1

Table 1: Age And Sex Distribution Of Study Population

Out of 241 cases age range was 2 yrs to 65 yrs, overwhelming male prepondarence with a peak in 3^rd decade ,most required age group of the society.Male and female ratio was 4:1.

Figure 2

Table 2: Type Of Fractures

Commonest fracture was mandibular fracture followed by zygomatico maxillary complex and midface fracture. 12 % accounted was panfacial.

Figure 3

Table 3: Modes Of Securing Airway

Most common way of intubation required was nasal intubation. Submental intubation was chosen over tracheostomy because of surgeon's need for oral manipulation and to reduce morbidity. Out of 241 patients, 158 patients had nasal intubation , among these 20 patients had epistaxis. 56 patients had oral intubation out of which 2 patients had injury to teeth.15 patients had submental intubation out of which 4 patients had infection resulting in fistula in one patient which took three weeks to heal with conservative management. The remaining 12 patients had tracheostomy. Wound healing was adequate in all.

Discussion

Airway management in complex craniomaxillofacial trauma is often difficult. The choice of intubation technique requires good assessment from multidisciplinary team that includes maxillofacial surgeons, anaesthesiologists as well as good communication between the surgeons and anaesthetist.₁If the extent of injury is minimal as in isolated zygomatic arch fracture or ramus of mandible fracture, mere nasotracheal or orotracheal intubation would be adequate. In many conditions such as craniomaxillofacial trauma, neither nasal nor orotracheal intubation is possible. In fact, nasotracheal intubation precludes the treatment of nasal fractures. Also in patients with frontobasilar fracture associated with maxillofacial trauma, blind ETT or nasogastric tube can directly go into the anterior cranial fossa because of fracture of cribriform plate resulting in major complications like meningitis , hemorrhage , and CSF leakage.₂, ₃, ₄, ₅, ₆ . Therefore, nasotracheal intubation is contraindicated in the presence of fracture of nasal skeleton, skull base fracture and CSF rhinorrhoea.

Conversely, an orotracheal tube interferes with maxillomandibular fixation, compromising the reduction and stabilization of maxillary and mandibular fractures.₇ Often neither nasal nor orothracheal intubation is suitable for transfacial approaches to the cranial base.₈ In fact, during transmaxillary approaches the orotracheal tube can obstruct the downward retraction of the maxilla after a Le Fort I osteotomy, limiting the exposure of the cranial base.₆, ₈ The tube can also be clamped between the teeth, reducing the airway lumen.₆, ₈ At the end of surgery, restoring an individual occlusion may not be tested and, if needed, intermaxillary fixation cannot be performed. In these situations, which require teamwork from several disciplines,₈ submental intubation or tracheostomy can be performed but submental intubation is preferred to avoid the complications of tracheostomy .₉,₁₀,₁₁ When mouth opening itself is inadequate , tracheostomy remains the only option.

Description of submental intubation dates back to 1986 by Altemir, a maxillofacial surgeon.₁₂ This technique offers a secure airway to the anaesthesiologist, optimal operating field and opportunity to check dental occlusion to the surgeon and less morbidity to the patient. So this technique was appreciated, well deservedly, by all the members of the team.

Submental intubation though has few complications like infection, orocutaneous fistula, In our study one patient had palatal fistula . It can be at times challenging if attention is not paid to proper selection of tube.₁₇Connector should be loose enough to facilitate easy disconnection, yet tight enough not to allow accidental disconnection or continued leak. We have surpassed this problem by having separate tubes, with written labels, which are checked routinely prior to intubation.

Amin et al describes the use of capnography during the process of converting orotracheal to submental and also throughout the surgery, to confirm the position of tube and to serve as warning tool against accidental extubation.₁₈ Our experience also matches the authors' opinion. Drolet et al described the use of tracheal tube exchanger in case of limited mouth opening₁₉. But associated complications were thought to be too high and they are not used in our institute. MacInnis et al described the use of midline incision to avoid excess bleeding, but since our previous experience with paramedian approach was uneventful, we went ahead with paramedian approach₂₁. Contraindications to submental orotracheal intubation are infection at the site of incision, mandibular symphysis fracture, inability to open mouth, etc. The list of procedures, where submental intubation can be used safely wherever orotracheal or nasotracheal tube hinders surgical access are innumerable, like oral surgeries in patients with nasal obstruction, plastic surgery for cleft lip correction, rhinoplasty, etc₂₀. Altemir et al described the use of laryngeal mask airway via submental approach, in conditions where endotracheal tube has to be avoided, or simply is not desired₂₂. Though tracheostomy has many in built complications it is indicated in few cases as first option eg.to bypass obstruction, , to provide a long-term route for mechanical ventilation .

To conclude we feel management of panfacial fractures is a very complex issue. Optimal choice of airway management is directed by thorough preoperative evaluation including radiological study, surgical requirement of maxillomandibular fixation and experience of anaesthesiologist. Wherever possible submental intubation should be considered over tracheostomy to reduce morbidity.

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