[Analysis of tracheal morphology by spiral CT in 126 cleft palate children]

Objective: To discuss the surgical safeness of the cleft palate children with airway stenosis by means of analyzing characteristics of the shape of the upper airway and comparing clinical data of cleft palate children with airway stenosis and non-airway stenosis. Methods: Tracing back from Apirl 2015 to Apirl 2017, 126 cleft palate children treated in Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, were included (46 male and 80 female, age of 7 to 74 months, median age 18 months). According to the spiral CT scan of neck, patients were categorized to airway-stenosis group (65 patients) and non-airway-stenosis group (61 patients). For airway-stenosis group, suspected difficult intubation plan is applied, guiding endotracheal intubation via visible laryngoscope. For non-airway-stenosis group, ordinary plan of endotracheal intubation is applied. Study the statistics of both groups in the measurement of the upper airway, the success rate of tracheal intubation, operation time, hospital day. Results: Based on anatomical location of the airway stenosis, cleft palate children were divided into: nasopharynx, 5 cases; laryngel, 55 cases; initiation part of trachea to arch of aorta, 2 cases; arch of aorta to bronchial bifurcation, 3 cases. Regardless of airway stenosis, the upper airway of cleft palate children in the subglottic area and the cricoid area was elliptical, with the transverse dimension narrow and the anteroposterior dimension wide. Comparing to non-airway-stenosis group, the airway in airway-stenosis group remained narrower in the anteroposterior dimension in the subglottis area [(7.69±1.76) mm]; also remained narrower in the transverse dimension [(5.96±1.27) mm] and the anteroposterior dimension [(8.16±1.31) mm] in the cricoid area (P<0.05). Pre-and post-operative monitor blood oxygen saturation of all patients were normal. Ventilator weaning of all patients was successful. There were no statistical significance in operation time and hospital day between airway-stenosis group and non-airway-stenosis group (P>0.05). Conclusions: The upper airway of the subglottic area and the cricoid area in cleft palate children are elliptical, with the transverse dimension narrow and the anteroposterior dimension wide. Cleft palate children with airway stenosis underwent surgery smoothly by using a portable visible laryngoscope.