Appliance for stabilizing orogastric and orotracheal tubes in infants.

The long-term use of orotracheal tubes in infants has been associated with airway damage, palatal groove formation, acquired cleft palate, and defective primary dentition. Nasotracheal intubation is associated with trauma to the nasal septum and deformities of the nares. Because the infant is an obligatory nose-breather, nasogastric feeding tubes obstruct the nares and cause mucosal edema. We have developed an intraoral appliance designed to stabilize orogastric feeding and orotracheal tubes, and prevent obstruction to the nares and trauma to the palate and alveolar ridge.