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Use of nasotracheal intubation in patients receiving oral cavity free flap reconstruction
Author(s) -
Moore Michael G.,
Bhrany Amit D.,
Francis David O.,
Yueh Bevan,
Futran Neal D.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21291
Subject(s) - tracheotomy , medicine , nasotracheal intubation , intubation , free flap reconstruction , surgery , perioperative , airway , airway management , free flap , anesthesia , retrospective cohort study , oral cavity , dentistry
Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect airway management has on perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing oral cavity free flap reconstruction.Methods. A retrospective review was performed on patients receiving oral cavity free flap reconstruction between March 2006 and October 2007. Patient, tumor, and treatment variables were recorded. Patients were managed with nasotracheal intubation (NTI) or elective tracheotomy and different perioperative outcomes were measured.Results. Thirty‐seven patients received NTI and 21 received tracheotomy. No patients in the NTI group required conversion to tracheotomy or reintubation. The mean total hospital stay was prolonged in the tracheotomy group (12.4 days vs 8.4 days), as was their likelihood of requiring a feeding tube at discharge (76% vs 19%). In multivariate analyses, placement of a tracheotomy was independently correlated with longer hospital stay and feeding tube dependence at discharge.Conclusions. NTI is a safe alternative to tracheotomy for select patients receiving oral cavity free flap reconstruction and may reduce hospital stay and feeding tube dependence at discharge. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010