BLIND NASOTRACHEAL INTUBATION

Abstract

Objective: Blind Nasotracheal Intubation (BNI) can be undertaken aftermuscle relaxation with Inj. Succinylcholine or under deep inhalational anesthesia. The objective of study was todetermine the preferred one of these 2 techniques of BNI. Design: Prospective, randomized study. Place andDuration of Study: PNS SHIFA, Karachi and AFID, Rawalpindi from May 2002 to April 2005. Subjects and Methods:Sixty patients between 10 - 40 years of age presenting for elective surgery in whom BNI was required due to limitedor no mouth opening were enrolled through convenient sampling. Patients were randomly divided into two groups:WMR (n=30) or NMR (n=30) to undergo BNI after relaxation with Succinylcholine or under inhalational anesthesia with2% Halothane, respectively. A red rubber nasal endotracheal tube (cuffed and un cuffed in adults and childrenrespectively) was used. Results: The frequency of successful BNI in WMR group was 100% and significantly higher(P=0.03) than in the NMR group (86%). Time to succeed was significantly less in the WMR group 2±0.9 minutes versus3.4±2.0 in the NMR group. There was no statistically significant difference of occurrence of adverse events in the twogroups. Conclusion: BNI with Succinylcholine produced a higher success rate. This technique can decrease failureto intubate, we speculate that it may, therefore, increase patient safety.