Orthognathic surgery typically contraindicates standard oral intubation techniques. Nasal intubation may distort the nasal profile thus complicating orthognathic surgery involving the midface. Using silicone putty to stabilise the tube in a custom position may minimise these changes. A prospective analysis was undertaken of patients undergoing nasal intubation with and without silicone putty stabilisation. Pre- and post-intubation measurements were made of nasolabial angle and interalar width. Silicone putty significantly reduced the changes of nasal intubation on nasolabial angle (p < 0.001) but did not affect interalar distance (p > 0.05). Silicone putty should be considered to stabilise the nasotracheal tube in orthognathic surgery.
Keywords: Nasal Distortion; Orthognathic surgery; Silicone putty.
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