Endotracheal intubation using a three-dimensional printed airway model in a patient with pierre robin sequence and a history of tracheostomy

Abstract

Background: Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) patients have an increased risk of difficult in-tubation due to anatomical airway abnormalities, and intubation simulation with a three-dimensional (3D) printed airway model before anesthesia may facilitate safe airway management. Case: We describe the case of a 6.5-year-old boy with a history of PRS (a triad of microg-nathia, glossoptosis, and airway obstruction), tracheostomy, and subglottic fibrosis who required general anesthesia. Preparation for this potentially difficult intubation included estimation of endotracheal tube size using a 3D printed airway model derived from 3D computed tomography of the airway, which enabled successful endotracheal intubation via video laryngoscopy. Conclusions: If general anesthesia is necessary in patients with dysmorphic features such as PRS and there is a history of tracheal pathology, the possibility of difficult intubation should always be considered and simulation of endotracheal intubation using a 3D printed model of the airway can be helpful clinically in such situations.