Case report of neonate Pierre Robin sequence with severe upper airway obstruction who was rescued by finger guide intubation

Abstract

Background: Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) patients are known for their triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and airway obstruction. Their airway can be a challenge even for the most experienced pediatric anesthesiologist. Case presentation: We report the case of a 9 day old 3.5 kg boy diagnosed with PRS, cleft palate, and a vallecular cyst with severe upper airway obstruction. The combination of PRS, cleft palate and the presence of vallecular cyst made this a cascade reaction of difficult airway. Due to his unique anatomy, we didn't appreciate how difficult his airway was until multiple attempts with high-tech equipment failed. Ultimately it was the finger guide intubation, this old technique without any equipment, that rescued this patient from lose of airway. Conclusions: The boy was successfully rescued by finger guided intubation. Finger guide intubation should be added to the anesthesiologist's newborn rescue intubation training.