Upper airway obstruction in craniofacial anomalies: diagnosis and management.

Particular attention to airway problems must be paid to any child with a craniofacial anomaly. Knowledge of the potential for upper airway obstruction in children with craniofacial anomalies, early recognition of the signs of obstruction, and prompt treatment are extremely important aspects of the treatment plan for each patient. An infant with choanal atresia or a nasal glioma will need definitive repair of his specific deformity to ensure the airway prior to consideration of any other problem. Similarly, the child with severe mandibular hypoplasia may require an early tongue-lip adhesion or tracheotomy to relieve airway distress until mandibular growth or surgical advancement enlarges the natural airway. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy may present earlier and with more severe sleep apnea in a child with an already compromised pharyngeal lumen. Early tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy must be considered in these patients even if this may possibly lead to velopharyngeal incompetence. Sleep apnea may also occur as a complication of the creation of a pharyngeal flap. If operative intervention for the craniofacial anomaly is contemplated, the potential for airway problems increases. The anesthetic induction and intubation are extremely difficult in the child with mandibular hypoplasia. The anesthetist and otolaryngologist must have a full range of techniques available to them to accomplish this task. If intermaxillary fixation is required postoperatively, or if the endotracheal tube is in the operative field, consideration should be given to a short-term tracheotomy to protect the airway during and after the operation. Close cooperation among the members of the craniofacial team is mandatory to prevent and/or treat any upper airway obstruction that may occur in the child with a craniofacial anomaly. Anticipation of possible airway compromise, early recognition of any existing obstruction, and prompt management of the problem are imperative to the successful diagnosis and treatment of craniofacial anomalies.