Successful long-term airway stabilization with a modified pacifier in a syndromic infant

Respir Care. 2014 Feb;59(2):e13-4. doi: 10.4187/respcare.02530. Epub 2013 May 21.

Abstract

Airway management is one of the key aspects of neonatal anesthesia, and an oropharyngeal airway is used in daily intensive care practice to relieve upper-airway obstruction. Cleft palate is among the various congenital malformations that can cause difficult airway management. We describe a syndromic infant with alobar holoprosencephaly, whose long-term airway patency was maintained with a modified infant pacifier. We would like to share our experience and contribute to the literature with the introduction of a readily available and easily-inserted apparatus.

Keywords: airway stabilization; neonate; oropharyngeal airway; syndromic infant.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Airway Management / methods*
  • Airway Obstruction / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction / therapy*
  • Cleft Palate / complications*
  • Holoprosencephaly
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Oropharynx / anatomy & histology
  • Pacifiers*