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Published on: August 2, 2024
Per-oral flexible laryngoscopy in awake neonates and infants: the 'pacifier' technique
P Loizou1, N Haloob1, E Evgeniou2
1Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK.
Insights
Pacification techniques can help calm infants during awake laryngoscopy for suspected laryngomalacia. This study introduces a new pacification method for per-oral flexible laryngoscopy in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric otolaryngology
- Medical procedures
Background:
- ENT specialists frequently assess neonates in NICU for suspected laryngomalacia.
- Current practice involves awake assessment, which can distress infants and parents.
- Literature indicates successful use of pacification during various infant procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe procedures effectively utilizing pacification in neonates and infants.
- To introduce a novel pacification technique for awake per-oral flexible laryngoscopy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of successful pacification techniques in neonates and infants.
- Development and description of a specific pacification method for laryngoscopy.
Main Results:
- Numerous procedures have been successfully performed on pacified neonates and infants.
- A new pacification technique for per-oral flexible laryngoscopy in awake infants is presented.
Conclusions:
- Pacification is a viable strategy to improve infant tolerance during awake laryngoscopy.
- The developed technique offers a potentially less distressing method for assessing neonatal airway issues.
Background:
It is common for ENT specialists to be called to neonatal intensive care units to assess neonates with suspected laryngomalacia. At Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, it is standard practice to initially try to assess the larynx whilst the patient is awake. This can cause the patient to cry and become irritable, and can induce worry in the parents. A literature search revealed that numerous procedures have been successfully performed on neonates and infants whilst they were being pacified.
Objectives:
This paper describes various procedures where pacification has been used effectively. Furthermore, it reports a pacification technique developed for per-oral flexible laryngoscopy in awake neonates and infants.
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