Submental intubation for orthognathic surgery in a patient with a history of pharyngeal flap construction: A case report

BackgroundSubmental intubation is an airway management technique wherein an endotracheal tube is guided through incisions in the floor of the mouth and the submental skin after normal orotracheal intubation.Case presentationA 20-year-old man with a history of pharyngeal flap construction for a cleft palate was planned for orthognathic surgery. Preoperative nasopharyngoscopy showed that the space lateral to the flap was too narrow for nasotracheal intubation; then submental intubation was performed. No intra- or postoperative complications were observed.ConclusionSubmental intubation is a useful alternative to tracheotomy in patients with difficulty in nasotracheal intubation during surgeries requiring occlusal confirmation.