title: Management of Near-Complete Airway Obstruction Caused by a Vallecular Cyst in an Infant Using a Tongue Tip Traction Suture.
abstract: Airway obstruction in infants can be because of a number of airway issues, one of which is a vallecular cyst. Although uncommonly seen, the management strategy for this difficult airway can be applied to many other difficult airway cases. We report the use of a preoperative oral fiberoptic assessment of the airway, use of a tongue stitch, and manipulation of a flexible nasal fiberoptic bronchoscope to secure the airway. Keeping the patient breathing spontaneously with low-dose ketamine also facilitated successful tracheal intubation.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Anesthesiology and †Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ghazal
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dyleski
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Applegate
mesh_terms: D058109:Airway Management / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery