Surgical correction of the snout suffocation syndrome.
Two nursing home patients with difficulty breathing because of occlusion of the mouth and nares by an involuntary snout reflex-like mannerism have previously been described. In both cases advanced dementia, edentia, and a downward-angled nasal base were present. Life-threatening hypoxia occurred intermittently in one case, and after becoming severe, was corrected by the surgical procedure described.
Keipper
V L
VL
Ardsley Medical Group, Concord, NC.
Chikes
P G
PG
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000502:physiology; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012018:Reflex; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D013577:Syndrome