Fibrescope vs Videolaryngoscope for Nasotracheal Intubation

Patients having surgery under general anaesthesia require insertion of a breathing tube to keep the airway open. The technique of inserting a breathing tube through the nose into the trachea (airway) is known as nasotracheal intubation. This is the ideal airway for surgical procedures performed inside the mouth, such as complex teeth extractions and operations on the jaw. Traditionally, the breathing tube is initially inserted blindly into the nasal cavity. Then, a video laryngoscope (a camera device) or a direct laryngoscope is used to visualise and guide the passage of tube into the trachea. This approach can be associated with difficulty passing the tube and has a high incidence of nasal trauma and nosebleed. Alternatively, a flexible fibrescope ( flexible camera device) with pre-loaded tracheal tube is passed through the nostril first under vision, gently advanced through the nasal