Abstract
The Pierre Robin syndrome consists of micrognathia, pseudo-macroglossia, glossoptosis and a high arched or cleft palate. Difficult intubation of the trachea and associated abnormalities such as congenital heart disease are well known complications of this syndrome. Intraoral surgery (such as cleft palate repair and palatoplasty) can also be technically difficult for the surgeon resulting in prolonged retraction on the tongue with a mouth gag to provide adequate surgical exposure. We report a case where massive lingual oedema following a cleft palate repair resulted in life-threatening airway obstruction.
Résumé
Le syndrome de Pierre Robin consiste en une micro-gnathie, une pseudo-macroglossie, une glossoptose et une voûte du palais à arc élevé ou un bece de lièvre. L’intubation de la trochée difficile et les anomalies associées, tel que les maladies cardiaques congénitales, sont des complications bien connues de ce syndrome. Une chirurgie buccale (comme une correction d’un bec de lièvre et palatoplastie ou staphyloplastie) peut être techniquement difficile pour le chirurgien craignant une retraction prolongée de la langue avec un ouvre-bouche afin de créer une exposition chirurgicale adéquate. On rapporte un cas d’oedème massif de la langue après une réparation d’un bee de lièvre créant une obstruction potentiellement mortelle des voies aériennes.
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Lee, J.T., Kingston, H.G.G. Airway obstruction due to massive lingual oedema following cleft palate surgery. Can Anaesth Soc J 32, 265–267 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03015140
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03015140