Orotracheal intubation in a patient with difficult airway by using fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation: A case report

Abstract

In cases of a difficult intubation where numerous intubation methods, including laryngoscopy, have failed, yet oral intubation is still necessary, the method of tube exchange after fiberoptic nasal intubation may be attempted. Fiberoptic nasal intubation allows intubation to be performed relatively easily when the laryngeal view grade is poor. We report a case in which our attempt at oral intubation for total maxillectomy with laryngoscopy and fiberoptic oral intubation had failed due to an unexpected difficult airway; subsequently, we successfully completed the surgery by performing fiberoptic nasal intubation to secure the airway, followed by using a tube exchanger to exchange to an oral endotracheal tube.