Surgical considerations in pierre robin sequence.

The neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with Pierre Robin sequence has decreased with improved nonsurgical and surgical methods for airway protection. With the introduction of distraction osteogenesis and the understanding that improved outcomes occur with a systematic approach to patient management that includes mandibular distraction for appropriate candidates, the proportion of severely micrognathic patients requiring tracheostomies can be decreased. The challenge to institutions is to implement and optimize systematic methods for evaluation and treatment of these neonates to achieve timely, consistent, and cost-effective outcomes.