title: [Life-threatening macroglossia following cleft palate palatoplasty].
abstract: The case of a 13-month-old child who developed a life-threatening macroglossia with airway obstruction following palatoplasty for a cleft palate is reported. As direct laryngoscopy was not feasible a laryngeal mask (LM) was inserted to secure the airway. Under fiber optic guidance an endotracheal tube was then introduced via the LM. In this article the incidence, pathophysiology, clinical dynamics, options for emergency anesthesia management and organizational implications of this rare but typical complication in the field of oral and craniomaxillofacial surgery are reported.
authors.affiliation: Soins intensifs pédiatriques, Clinique pédiatrique, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, 4 rue Ernest Barblé, 1210, Luxembourg, Luxembourg. neuhaeuser.christoph@chl.lu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neuhäuser
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Welter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arendt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bindl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D003422:Critical Care; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008260:Macroglossia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*