title: Successful management of a neonate with Pierre-Robin syndrome and severe upper airway obstruction by long term placement of a laryngeal mask airway.
abstract: The severity of airway obstruction varies in infants with Pierre-Robin syndrome (PRS). Some have severe upper airway obstruction that results in respiratory failure and even death. We report a case of neonate with isolated PRS who had a severe airway obstruction and respiratory failure after birth. She had complications of bilateral pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, and hypoxaemia due to difficult tracheal intubation. Respiratory failure recurred immediately after extubation; she was resuscitated by inserting a laryngeal mask airway. The laryngeal mask airway was left inserted for 6 days. It was successful in this patient and eliminated the need for invasive surgical procedures. In conclusion, the relatively long term use of a laryngeal mask airway, which has not been reported before, could be an alternative therapy for patients with PRS with airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Ta
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Jieh-Neng
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying-Tai
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Tung-Ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Jing-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D010855:Pierre Robin Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome