[Laterosubmental tracheal intubation. An alternative method to nasal-oral intubation or tracheostomy in single-step treatment of panfacial multiple fractures or osteotomies].

In single-step surgery of panfacial fractures or conversion osteotomies of the visceral cranium, nasal as well as oral intubation or tracheal intubation via tracheostomy is necessary. If complicated tracheostomy is not done, intraoperative nasal-oral repositioning of the tube is required. In order to avoid the risks of repositioning the endotracheal tube or tracheostomy, we suggest a new alternative method called laterosubmental tracheal intubation. After a laterosubmental fistula is created at the base of the mouth, directly behind the anterior mandibular dentition, the tube is guided through the oral floor, lateral to the muscles and the salivary duct, and fixed extraorally. The advantages of this method are: no more intraoperative repositioning of the endotracheal tube and no need for tracheostomy, thus eliminating the risks and side effects, as well as tracheal scarring, and free accessibility of the operative field.