Difficult Retrograde Endotracheal Intubation: The Utility of a Pharyngeal Loop

Abstract

A 30-yr-old woman presented for redo-release of bilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis under general anesthesia. During the previous anesthetic for primary release of ankylosis, tracheostomy was done, as conventional blind nasotracheal and retrograde intubation attempts failed several times. This case report describes the method for overcoming the difficulties of a retrograde intubation procedure in removing the guiding catheter nasally by using a pharyngeal loop assembly.