Case Report

Management of the Difficult Paediatric Airway with a Simple Fiberoptic-Assisted Laryngoscope: A Report of Two Cases with Pierre Robin and Patau's (Trisomy 13) Syndrome

10.5152/TJAR.2014.30316

  • Alper Kılıçaslan
  • Atilla Erol
  • Ahmet Topal
  • Tayfun Et
  • Şeref Otelcioğlu

Received Date: 04.11.2013 Accepted Date: 31.01.2014 Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim 2014;42(6):358-361

Airway management of children with congenital craniofacial anomalies is a challenge for paediatric anaesthesiologists. We do not have any video-assisted airway device in our department for difficult paediatric intubations. We decided to attach a regular fiberoptic (outer diameter; 3.7 mm, Karl Storz, Germany) scope to a conventional Macintosh Laryngoscope (size 1). We describe two cases of Pierre Robin and Patau’s (Trisomy 13) syndrome successfully intubated with a fiberoptic-assisted laryngoscope (FOL). A fiberoptic scope and any size of a laryngoscope blade can be easily assembled in the operating room. The FOL may be a useful device in the setting of difficult paediatric intubation.

Keywords: Paediatric difficult airway, video laryngoscope, equipment, Pierre Robin syndrome, Patau’s syndrome (trisomy 13)