Comparing Nasotracheal vs. Orotracheal Intubation for Patients in the Intensive Care

Abstract

All patients admitted to the intensive care unit require constant care and interventions, depending upon their condition. This is because nearly all the patients kept in the intensive care departments are in a very serious condition. Their prognosis could not be determined just by making them stay within the department. However, new interventions might be needed from time to time to ensure that the person is maintaining all vital signs and capacities to the best of their body’s abilities. This, among the other factors involved in the equation, is one of the major goals that physicians working in the ICU settings must take care of and be aware of. The airway, amidst all the bodily systems and organs, is one of the most important features that must be secured and taken care of in the best possible way. The patency of the airway is what ultimately affects the rest of the systems and organs of the body, and thus, the utmost level of care must be taken to make sure that a patient has a secure, clear, and patent airway at all times. Airway management is also one of the first things to be assessed and managed accordingly when reporting at an accident site. In the cases where a person's airway has been compromised or there is a risk of it getting compromised, immediate steps are taken to intubate the patient. Intubation not only helps clear and secure the airway but also helps stabilize the otherwise deteriorating condition of the patient to a greater extent. There are several techniques for intubating a patient, all depending upon their individual indications and conditions. This review, will, however, compare the effectiveness and safety of orotracheal and nasotracheal modes of intubation in patients. This review will serve as an exploratory guide to see which method of intubation is safer and more convenient when opting for patients with a compromised airway. It will help guide the physicians to make an appropriate decision in times of need when there is an emergency related to the patient.