Nasotracheal intubation may be done for a variety of reasons, but primarily for maxillofacial surgery surgery or after oral trauma. While minor mucosal trauma is relatively common, significant trauma such as avulsion of a turbinate is uncommon.
Patient selection: nastotracheal intubation
Complications associated with traumatic turbinectomy:
(1) hemorrhage (epistaxis)
(2) nasal obstruction (new-onset)
(3) nasal mass
(4) infection (abscess, cellulitis)
Sometimes the patient is initially asymptomatic, only to develop a problems months or even years later. If the patient was unconscious at the time of surgery then the patient may not be able to provide essential information.
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