Craniofacial surgery: airway problems and management.

Airway problems are the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality during operations to repair craniofacial anomalies. These problems can be managed by awareness of the risks and prophylactic intervention rather than by desperate steps when acute problems occur in treatment. Airway obstruction is the major problem in managing patients with such deformities in the preoperative period, at the time of intubation, during the operation, and in the early postoperative period. Congenital craniofacial problems that may lead to airway difficulties are extremely rare, and for physicians to gain sufficient experience to prevent morbidity, these patients should be referred to regional centers, where at least two or three such operations are performed per week.