Perinatal management of unanticipated congenital laryngeal atresia

Michael S. Cohen, Michael A. Rothschild, Juan Moscoso, Edward Shlasko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Unless ventilation is achieved within minutes of delivery, patients with congenital laryngeal atresia will not survive. There are 2 settings in which survival is more likely: a tracheotomy may be immediately performed in the delivery room, or a communication may exist between the airway and the pharynx, allowing for air exchange. In the latter case, there are no characteristic findings on prenatal sonography to suggest the diagnosis and to ensure that preparations for immediate tracheotomy are made. We describe a neonate with unanticipated laryngeal atresia and a high tracheoesophageal fistula. Ventilation was maintained first by face mask and then by esophageal intubation until a tracheotomy could be performed. This report provides detailed photodocumentation of the anomaly, discusses the mechanism of air exchange, reviews the relevant embryological development, and outlines a protocol for perinatal management of unanticipated laryngeal atresia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1368-1371
Number of pages4
JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Volume124
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1998

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