Efficacy of Shikani laryngoscope-guided nasotracheal intubation in patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Shikani laryngoscope-guided nasotracheal intubation in patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery. Methods One hundred ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients with body mass index ＜25 kg/m2 , aged 18-64 yr, undergoing maxillofacial surgery under general anesthesia requiring nasotracheal intubation were included in this study. Fifty patients without anticipated difficult airway in preoperative assessment were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n = 25 each): Macintosh luyngoscope group ( group M ) and Shikani Optical Stylet (SOS) group (group S1 ). The other 50 patients with mouth opening ＜ 3 cm but without difficult ventilation by mask were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n = 25 each): fiberoptic bronchoscope group (group F) and SOS group (group S2 ). Tracheal intubation was performed under the guidance of laryngoscopes after induction of anesthesia, and then the patients were mechanically ventilated. The degree of glottis exposure and epistaxis was evaluated. The rate of successful intubation, rate of successful intubation at first attempt, intubation time and complications were recorded. Results Compared with group M, the rate of successful intubation, rate of successful intubation at first attempt, and degree of glottis exposure were significantly increased, the intubation time was significantly shortened, and the degree of epistaxis was significantly decreased ( P ＜ 0.05), but no significant change was found in the complications in group S1 ( P ＞ 0.05). Compared with group F, the intubation time was significantly shortened ( P ＜ 0.05), but no significant change was found in the rate of successful intubation, rate of successful intubation at first attempt and complications in group S2 ( P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion Shikani laryngoscope can expose glottis better and the rate of successful intubation at first attempt is higher, thus it is more suitable for nasotracheal intubation in patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery. Key words: Intubation, intratracheal; Laryngoscopy; Oral surgical procedures