Objective To evaluate the efficacy of self-made nasal canal dilator for nasotracheal intubation.Methods Eighty patients requiring awake naso-tracheal intubation of both sexes,aged 21-63yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,were divided into cotton swab group (group Ⅰ) and self-made nasal canal dilator group (group Ⅱ),with 40 patients in each group according to a random number table method.The nasal cavity was expanded using cotton swabs in group Ⅰ and with a self-made nasal canal dilator in group Ⅱ.Awake blind nasotracheal intubation was performed in both groups.Heart rate (HR) and mean artery pressure (MAP) were recorded at 5 min after entering the operating room (To),immediately after the tracheal tube passed through the back nostrils (T1),immediately after successful tracheal intubation (T2),and at 5 min after successful intubation (T3).Intubation time,development of nasal mucosal injury and patient's comfort score while tracheal tube passed through nasal cavity were recorded.Results Compared with group Ⅰ,MAP and HR were significantly decreased at T1,2,intubation time was shortened,the incidence of nasal mucosal injury was decreased,and the degree of comfort was increased in group Ⅱ (P＜0.05).Compared with the baseline at T0,MAP and HR were significantly increased at T2 in group Ⅱ and at T1,2 in group Ⅰ (P＜0.05).Conclusion The self-made nasal canal dilator provides better efficacy than the traditional method,effectively reduces nasal damage and raises patient comfort when used for nasotracheal intubation.