Submental intubation in a patient with beta-thalassaemia major undergoing elective maxillary and mandibular osteotomies.

A 33-yr-old woman with marked maxillo-facial deformities as a result of underlying beta-thalassaemia major was to undergo corrective maxillary and mandibular osteotomies. The placement of an endotracheal tube posed a problem in this patient because of anatomical deformities in her nasal passage, surgical constraints on using the oral route, and reluctance of the patient to have a tracheostomy. This case report describes the use of a submental tracheal intubation technique, and the associated anaesthetic difficulties encountered in patients with this pathology.