Alternative to tracheostomy: submental intubation in craniomaxillofacial trauma.

Perioperative management of the airway in complex craniomaxillofacial trauma can be difficult. As described by Altemir in 1986, submental intubation is a useful technique as an alternative to tracheostomy in selected trauma patients. The authors reports patients with craniomaxillofacial trauma who successfully underwent submental intubation and describe the straightforward technique in detail.