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

Background: Submental 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 presentation: A 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. Conclusion: Submental intubation is a useful alternative to tracheotomy in patients with difficulty in nasotracheal intubation during surgeries requiring occlusal confirmation.