TRACHEAL TUBE CUFF INFLATION AS AN AID TO BLIND NASOTRACHEAL INTUBATION

We have assessed the efficacy of tracheal tube cuff inflationin the oropharynx as an aid to blind nasotracheal intubationin 20 ASA I and II patients undergoing elective oral surgery.The trachea was intubated once using the technique of trachea/tubecuff inflation in the oropharynx and once keeping the trachea/tubecuff deflated throughout the manoeuvre. With the cuff deflated,intubation was successful in nine of 20 (45%) patients; in eightof 20 (40%) it was successful on the first attempt. With thetrachea/tube cuff inflated, intubation was successful in 19of 20 patients (95%), 15 of 20 (75%) of these on the first attempt.The success rates were significantly different (P < 0.01).Times to intubate were not significantly different (P > 0.05).We conclude that, in normal patients, trachea/tube cuff inflationin the oropharynx increases the success rate of blind nasotrachealintubation. (Br. J. Anaesth. 1993; 70: 691–693)