Anesthetic management of three pediatric cases with Pena-Shokeir syndrome

Pena-Shokeir syndrome is a rare, early lethal disease. It is characterized by fetal growth restriction; craniofacial deformities, for example micrognathia and microcephaly; multiple ankyloses; and pulmonary hypoplasia. For patients with this syndrome, maintenance of airway and control of perioperative respiratory complications are important for anesthetic management. We report 3 pediatric cases of Pena-Shokeir syndrome undergoing tracheostomy and arthrolysis under general anesthesia using sevoflurane, nitrous oxide, fentanyl, and vecuronium bromide. Anesthetic procedures including mask ventilation, tracheal intubation, and extubation were successfully performed without complications during and after surgery. In patients with Pena-Shokeir syndrome, inhalational anesthetics can be safely used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia, although it is important to assume that difficult airway management might be encountered.