Lightwand-guided nasotracheal intubation in oromaxillofacial surgery patients with anticipated difficult airways: a comparison with blind nasal intubation

In oromaxillofacial surgery patients, the incidence of difficult airways is up to 15.4–16.9%. Blind nasal intubation remains a safe technique for difficult airway management in some remote areas where a fibreoptic bronchoscope is not always available. The lightwand is an easy-to-use, highly economical device, and can facilitate endotracheal intubation through illumination in the neck. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of nasotracheal intubation using lightwand in oromaxillofacial surgery patients with difficult airways. One hundred and sixteen patients with difficult airways requiring nasotracheal intubation were randomly divided into a lightwand group and a blind group, with 58 cases in each group. The first attempt and overall success rates of lightwand intubation were 84.5% and 93.1%, respectively, which were higher than those of blind intubation (65.5% and 75.9%, respectively; P < 0.05). The total intubation time was 91.4 ± 27.7 s in the lightwand group and 130.7 ± 33.4 s in the blind group (P < 0.001). Patients in the lightwand group also experienced more stable haemodynamic responses and less pharyngalgia. In conclusion, lightwand-guided nasotracheal intubation is superior to blind intubation in patients with difficult airways, with a higher success rate, more stable haemodynamic responses, and fewer postoperative complications.