The peri-operative complications of nasal intubation: a comparison of nostril side.

We studied 128 patients undergoing nasal intubation to see whether the nostril side used influenced peri-operative nasal complications. In the apparently normal nostril, there is no significant difference between either nostril in difficulty of intubation (p > 0.8). Similarly, there is no significant difference in the incidence of bleeding at intubation (p > 0.2), at extubation (p > 0.5) and once the patient has returned to recovery (p > 0.1). Postoperative nostril patency is also similar between groups (p > 0.85).