BLIND NASOTRACHEAL INTUBATION

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WITH AND WITHOUT SUCCINYLCHOLINE

Abstract

Objective: Blind Nasotracheal Intubation (BNI) can be undertaken after
muscle relaxation with Inj. Succinylcholine or under deep inhalational anesthesia. The objective of study was to
determine the preferred one of these 2 techniques of BNI. Design: Prospective, randomized study. Place and
Duration of Study: PNS SHIFA, Karachi and AFID, Rawalpindi from May 2002 to April 2005. Subjects and Methods:
Sixty patients between 10 - 40 years of age presenting for elective surgery in whom BNI was required due to limited
or no mouth opening were enrolled through convenient sampling. Patients were randomly divided into two groups:
WMR (n=30) or NMR (n=30) to undergo BNI after relaxation with Succinylcholine or under inhalational anesthesia with
2% Halothane, respectively. A red rubber nasal endotracheal tube (cuffed and un cuffed in adults and children
respectively) was used. Results: The frequency of successful BNI in WMR group was 100% and significantly higher
(P=0.03) than in the NMR group (86%). Time to succeed was significantly less in the WMR group 2±0.9 minutes versus
3.4±2.0 in the NMR group. There was no statistically significant difference of occurrence of adverse events in the two
groups. Conclusion: BNI with Succinylcholine produced a higher success rate. This technique can decrease failure
to intubate, we speculate that it may, therefore, increase patient safety.