Suction catheter-assisted nasotracheal intubation.

This case series illustrates the use of a suction catheter to guide the passage of an endotracheal (ET) tube through the glottis, a technique modification which can be used when standard nasotracheal intubation is unsuccessful. The technique is appropriate for patients in whom airway management is urgent, but not emergent. Catheter-assisted nasotracheal intubation is useful when intubation is difficult because of excessive patient resistance to movement of the ET tube within the oropharynx. The clinical use of this technique is described for the following scenarios: overdose with obtundation, multiple trauma with agitation, and respiratory failure from pneumonia and pulmonary edema.