Airway management with Airtraq in a neonate with Epignathus. A case report

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Neonatal Care

Background:

• Intraoral pathologies in neonates present significant airway management challenges.
• Epignathus, a rare teratoid tumor, originates in the oropharyngeal region.

Observation:

• A 7-day-old neonate exhibited feeding difficulties due to a hard palate swelling.
• The swelling was identified as an epignathus tumor.

Findings:

• Surgical excision of the epignathus was performed to resolve feeding difficulties and promote infant growth.
• Airway management involved sevoflurane induction with spontaneous breathing and intubation using an Airtraq optical laryngoscope (size 0).
• The intraoperative and postoperative periods were uneventful, indicating a successful procedure.

Implications:

• This case highlights the successful management of a rare neonatal intraoral tumor.
• Effective airway management strategies are crucial for neonates with complex oral pathologies.
• Early surgical intervention can significantly improve outcomes for neonates with epignathus.