Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Submental intubation is a technique described in 1986 by Altemir. It is an alternative to tracheostomy for airway management in patients with complex facial fractures, in which nasal or oral intubation is contraindicated.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a new device developed to facilitate and simplify the technique, helping surgeons in submental intubation.
METHODOLOGY: Orotracheal intubation is initially performed with a wired tube, followed by a 10 mm paramedian incision in the skin in the submental region. The submental device is introduced with the tip of the blunt object, piercing the tissues without causing any cuts, up to the lingual aspect of the mandible. The tip of the device emerges from the floor of the mouth, which will allow the tube to be exteriorized to the submental skin region, and then the plastic connection is reinserted and connected to the mechanical ventilation equipment. External fixation of the tube to the skin is indicated. and after completion of the surgical procedure, the tube must be repositioned to the orotracheal tube.
RESULTS: This new proposed device did not change the most common complications already reported in the literature. However, it reduced the chance of tube-related accidents and lessened the impact of the scar.
CONCLUSION: The device should be able to help the surgeon to perform submental intubation without major difficulties, speeding up the time to perform the technique and increasing its use at the expense of tracheostomie in airway management.