Nasotracheal intubation for airway management during anesthesia

• Published in: Anesthesia and pain medicine (Korean society of anesthesiologists) Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 232 - 247
• Main Authors: Park, Dong Ho, Lee, Chia An, Jeong, Chang Young, Yang, Hong-Seuk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society of Anesthesiologists 01.07.2021; 대한마취통증의학회
• Subjects: airway management; anesthesia; endotracheal intubation; nasal cavity; Review; 마취과학
• ISSN: 1975-5171; 2383-7977; 2383-7977
• DOI: 10.17085/apm.21040

Nasotracheal intubation is used as a basic method for airway management, along with orotracheal intubation under anesthesia and intensive care. It has become an effective alternative method to orotracheal intubation with increased benefits of offering better mobility and surgical field in oral and maxillofacial surgery and possibly in trauma and critically ill patients. Nasotracheal intubation is performed through a relatively narrow nasal cavity; therefore, additional precautions are needed. Accordingly, nasotracheal intubation methods have evolved over the years with accumulated clinical experience and improved instruments to facilitate safe intubation with reduced complications. Therefore, in this review article, we summarize the basic anatomy of the nasal airways to clarify the precautions, delineate the history and development of various methods and instruments, and describe the indications, contraindications, complications, and preventive methods of nasotracheal intubation.