RETROGRADE INTUBATION IN A MAXILLOFACIAL TRAUMA

Dr. Maruti Gupta*

ABSTRACT

The normal anatomy of the face and airway is mostly distorted in trauma of the face making it an anticipated difficult airway. Most of the trauma cases are managed in a small remote setup, initially. Involvement of the Airway is even more difficult to manage in a peripheral setup in the absence of latest gadgets and trained expertise. Techniques recommended by the difficult airway society (DAS) for securing the airway are Fibreoptic Endoscopy, Virtual Endoscopy, Videolaryngoscopy and Emergency Surgical Airway. At hospitals, where most of the post traumatic difficult airway cases come, such devices are not available. With only one trained anaesthesiologists and limited resources securing such airways is extremely difficult. In such scenarios using old conventional methods, which are less equipment dependent, need to be resorted to secure the airway.In such a scenario Retrograde Intubation can be considered as a better option for securing the airway. In an emergency situation it can be easily performed even with the available equipments with limited expertise.

Keywords: Difficult Airway, Maxillofacial Trauma and Retrograde Intubation.