J Med Life Sci.  2025 Jan;22(1):22-27. 10.22730/jmls.2025.22.1.22.

Nasotracheal intubation guided by an esophageal temperature probe in children

• Song SE
• Lim WH
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 2564089
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22730/jmls.2025.22.1.22

Abstract

Nasotracheal intubation is commonly used to maintain airway function in children undergoing dental surgery. The present study aimed to evaluate the utility of an esophageal temperature probe (ETP) in guiding nasotracheal intubation in children. Children 3-12 years of age requiring nasotracheal intubation for dental surgery were randomly allocated to 2 groups: guidance (group G [n=21]) or conventional (group C [n=21]). After induction of general anesthesia, the nares were prepared with a topical vasoconstrictor, and the tracheal tube (TT) was thermosoftened. In group G, the ETP was first inserted into the TT and then through the nasal nostril until it passed into the oropharynx, after which the TT was advanced along the ETP. The ETP was then removed and intubation was performed using direct laryngoscopy. In group C, the TT was conventionally inserted without ETP. The success rate of nasotracheal intubation was 100% in both groups. The TT encountered fewer navigational issues in group G than in group C (38.1% vs. 71.4%; P=0.030). The frequency of obvious epistaxis was also significantly lower in group G than that in group C (14.3% vs. 47.6%, P=0.019). Nasotracheal intubation guided by an ETP was a simple and effective technique to facilitate smooth passage of the TT through the nasal passage and reduce epistaxis in children.

Keyword

Epistaxis; Intubation; Patient safety