1/33. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis in a neonate.Children with craniofacial anomalies are predisposed to airway obstruction and frequently require airway intervention. tracheotomy is performed when the airway obstruction is severe and refractory to other less invasive interventions. tracheotomy is associated with significant morbidity, and there is a trend noted in the literature toward achieving earlier decannulation by the institution of definitive structural changes to the mandible. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis has been shown to alleviate airway obstruction in the pediatric population. We report a case in which mandibular distraction osteogenesis was successfully carried out in a neonate with acute airway obstruction at birth as a result of combined Pierre Robin sequence and klippel-feil syndrome. After 1 year, the patient still had an adequate airway with tolerable scarring and no neurologic sequelae.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = mandible (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/33. Nonsurgical and nonextraction treatment of skeletal Class III open bite: its long-term stability.Two female patients, aged 14 years 5 months and 17 years 3 months with skeletal Class III open bite and temporomandibular dysfunction are presented. They had previously been classified as orthognathic surgical cases, involving first premolar removal. The primary treatment objective was to eliminate those skeletal and neuromuscular factors that were dominant in establishing their malocclusions. These included abnormal behavior of the tongue with short labial and lingual frenula, bilateral imbalance of chewing muscles, a partially blocked nasopharyngeal airway causing extrusion of the molars, with rotation of the mandible and narrowing of the maxillary arch. Resultant occlusal interference caused the mandible to shift to one side, which in turn produced the abnormal occlusal plane and curve of Spee. As a result, the form and function of the joints were adversely affected by the structural and functional asymmetry. These cases were treated by expanding the maxillary arch, which brought the maxilla downward and forward. The mandible moved downward and backward, with a slight increase in anterior facial height. Intruding and uprighting the posterior teeth, combined with a maxillary protraction, reconstructed the occlusal plane. A favorable perioral environment was created with widened tongue space in order to produce an adequate airway. myofunctional therapy after lingual and labial frenectomy was assisted by vigorous gum chewing during and after treatment, together with a tooth positioner. Normal nasal breathing was achieved.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = mandible (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/33. Intemittent obstruction of the upper airway during sleep causing profound hypoxaemia. A neglected mechanism exacerbating chronic respiratory failure.An obese patient with a ten year history of respiratory failure presented with insomnia and marked daytime somnolence. Respriatory failure had been attributed to obesity, respiratory centre insensitivity to carbon dioxide, and to diffuse airways obstruction. To investigate the possible role of episodic apnoea with frequent nocturnal arousals, continous recordings were obtained during sleep of arterial oxygen saturation, oesophageal pressure and the motions of the rib-cage and abdomen/diaphragm. Repeated episodes of hypoventilation and profound hypoxaemia were found which were due to intermittent obstruction of the upper airway rather than to cessation of breathing efforts. During the episodes of hypoxaemia, values of arterial O2 tension fell to as low as 24 mmHg. Episodic hypoxaemia was relieved but not abolished, by the use of a collar, designed to hold the mandible forward. Previous reports indicated that recognition of intermittent obstruction of the upper airway during sleep and treatment by a permanent tracheostomy, resulted in a significant long-term imporvement of pulmonary and cardiac function and relief of insomnia and day-time somnolence. When tracheostomy is inadvisable, as in the present patient, it is hoped that similar long-term benefits will result from a supportive collar.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = mandible (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/33. Upper airway complications in children after bone marrow transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To describe the upper and lower airway complications in children during bone marrow transplantation (BMT). STUDY DESIGN: review of medical records of patients requiring airway intervention during BMT over a 4-year period. RESULTS: During the 4-year period, 832 pediatric BMTs were performed. Of these, 87 patients (10.5%) required mechanical ventilation. patients had intubation for a mean of 79 days (range, -7-638 d) after BMT. patients received mechanical ventilation for a mean of 12 days (range, 1-85 d). Duration of ventilation was significantly longer in patients with difficult intubation; in these 54 patients there were 64 intubations. Of these intubations, 19 (30%) were difficult. These difficult intubations occurred in 16 (30%) patients. patients with Hurler syndrome and congenital immunodeficiencies had significantly more difficult intubations than children with leukemia. The incidence of complications causing difficult intubation were difficulty visualizing cords, because of the presence of blood (63%); difficulty visualizing cords, because of edema (19%); anatomically narrowed airway (13%); limited neck extension (13%); and limited jaw opening (6%). The resulting mortality rate was 82% in children requiring intubation. survivors were significantly younger than nonsurvivors. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric BMT has become increasingly more common. airway management is rarely required during the engraftment phase, but when intervention is required, it is often difficult, particularly in the nonleukemic child, and may require the skills of an otolaryngologist. Representative cases are presented, and management is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.043032529235709keywords = jaw (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/33. Subperiosteal release of the floor of the mouth musculature in two cases of Pierre Robin sequence.Many management approaches have been considered to relieve upper respiratory obstruction in patients with Pierre Robin sequence, but the choice of treatment is determined by the severity of the obstruction. These options include prone positioning, the use of a nasal trumpet, and surgery. One surgical technique is the subperiosteal release of the floor of the mouth musculature. The theory behind this procedure is that this musculature is under tension, and therefore it pushes the tongue upward and backward, resulting in respiratory obstruction. In theory, the release of this musculature from the mandible should alleviate the tension and hence clear the obstruction. In an attempt to objectively evaluate this theory, we performed subperiosteal release surgery on two infants. Our first patient required an emergent tracheostomy on postoperative day 2 because of the onset of surgically induced airway edema. To avoid this complication in the second patient, we performed a tracheostomy at the same time as surgery. Pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging in the second patient revealed only a minimal change in the anatomy of the floor of the mouth musculature. We believe the subperiosteal release of the floor of the mouth musculature requires further evaluation before it can be considered to be effective in the surgical treatment of respiratory obstruction in Pierre Robin sequence.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = mandible (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/33. Early treatment of severe mandibular hypoplasia with distraction mesenchymogenesis and bilateral free fibula flaps.The technique of distraction has revolutionized the treatment of mandibular hypoplasia; however, presently large mandibular defects still require bone grafts. Microvascular grafting is commonly used in adults. Conversely, in pediatric reconstruction, nonvascularized rib grafts remain standard. Unfortunately, resorption of nonvascularized bone remains a major issue, particularly when soft tissue is hypoplastic. This case study represents a combination of techniques in the treatment of severe mandibular deficiency, and introduces the concept of distraction mesenchymogenesis. The patient was a 2 1/2-year-old boy with severe bilateral Pruzansky class III mandibular hypoplasia. He had a permanent open mouth posture, an overjet of 23 mm, and was unable to move the lower mandibular segment. His oropharyngeal airway diameter was 2.2 mm and he was tracheostomy dependent. The patient was treated with distraction of the lower jaw mesenchyme followed by bilateral functional free fibular microvascular flaps containing reinnervated muscle. This created a well-vascularized body, ramus, and condyle bilaterally within an adequate soft-tissue envelope. Postoperatively, the overjet was reduced to 5 mm. The patient can now actively move his mandible. Airway diameter increased to 10 mm, and the patient is able to tolerate intermittent tracheostomy plugging. This innovative combination of techniques allows early intervention, limits graft resorption, and improves airway control.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.0430325292357keywords = mandible, jaw (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/33. Heterotopic neuroglial tissue causing airway obstruction in the newborn.BACKGROUND: Heterotopic neuroglial (brain) tissue is a rare cause of airway obstruction in newborns. Fewer than 30 cases have been reported in the English literature. brain heterotopias can mimic more common congenital anomalies of the head and neck. OBJECTIVE: To review our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of children with heterotopic pharyngeal neuroglial tissue. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. patients: Four newborns with airway obstruction caused by heterotopic neuroglial tissue. RESULTS: All patients were infants (3 full-term girls and a 32 weeks' gestation boy) who had airway obstruction in the newborn period. All patients underwent preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed a heterogeneous mass involving the pharynx, neck, and parapharyngeal space. Bony deformities of the skull base and mandible were present in all patients, although intracranial connection was absent. Multiple surgical procedures were performed in all 4 patients. tracheotomy was performed in 2 patients, gastrostomy tube placement was required in 3, and a nasopharyngeal tube was used in 1. Combined cervicofacial and transoral approaches were used for resection, preserving vital structures. Histopathologic evaluation revealed mature glial tissue and choroid plexus-like structures. CONCLUSIONS: Heterotopic neuroglial tissue must be considered in the differential diagnosis of airway obstruction in the newborn. Management is surgical resection, with attention to vital structures and function-analogous to surgery for lymphangioma. Multiple surgical procedures might be necessary in the treatment of these patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = mandible (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/33. Retropharyngeal aberrant thymus.INTRODUCTION: Upper airway obstruction from a retropharyngeal mass requires urgent evaluation. In children, the differential diagnosis includes infection, trauma, neoplasm, and congenital abnormalities. Aberrant cervical thymic tissue, although occasionally observed on autopsy examination, is rarely clinically significant. We present the case of an infant with respiratory distress attributed to aberrant thymic tissue located in the retropharyngeal space. CASE: A 6-week-old infant was brought to the emergency department for evaluation of stridor associated with periodic episodes of cyanosis. Lateral neck radiograph revealed widening of the retropharyngeal soft tissues. The patient's symptoms did not improve with intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed on the seventh day of hospitalization revealed a retropharyngeal mass that extended to the carotid space. The mass was easily resected using an intraoral approach. Microscopic examination demonstrated thymic tissue. A normal thymus was also observed in the anterior mediastinum on MRI. The patient recovered uneventfully and had no further episodes of stridor or cyanosis. DISCUSSION: Aberrant cervical thymic tissue may be cystic or solid. Cystic cervical thymus is more common, and 6% of these patients present with symptoms of dyspnea or dysphagia. Aberrant solid cervical thymus usually presents as an asymptomatic anterior neck mass. This case is unusual in that solid thymic tissue was located in the retropharynx, a finding not previously reported in the English literature. Additionally, the patient presented in acute respiratory distress, and the diagnosis was confounded by the presence of mild laryngomalacia. In retrospect, our patient likely had symptoms of intermittent upper airway obstruction since birth. The acute respiratory distress at presentation was likely the result of laryngomalacia exacerbated by the presence of aberrant thymic tissue and a superimposed viral infection. Aberrantly located thymic tissue arises as a consequence of migrational defects during thymic embryogenesis. The thymus is a paired organ derived from the third and, to a lesser extent, fourth pharyngeal pouches. After its appearance during the sixth week of fetal life, it descends to a final position in the anterior mediastinum, adjacent to the parietal pericardium. Aberrant thymic tissue results when this tissue breaks free from the thymus as it migrates caudally. Therefore, aberrant thymic tissue may be found in any position along a line from the angle of the mandible to the sternal notch, and in the anterior mediastinum to the level of the diaphragm. In an autopsy study of 3236 children, abnormally positioned thymic tissue was found in 34 cases (1%). The aberrant thymus was most often located near the thyroid gland (n = 19 cases) but was also detected lower in the anterior neck (n = 6 cases), higher in the anterior neck (n = 8 cases), and at the left base of the skull (n = 1 case). The presence of thymic tissue in the retropharyngeal space in our patient is more unusual given the typical embryologic origin and descent of the thymus in the anterior neck to the mediastinum. Children with aberrant thymus may have associated anomalies. Twenty-four of 34 children (71%) with aberrant thymus detected at autopsy had features consistent with digeorge syndrome, and only 5 of the remaining 10 patients had a normal mediastinal thymus present. Our patient had normal serum calcium levels after excision and a mediastinal thymus was visualized on MRI. Biospy is required for diagnosis of cervical thymus and should also be considered to exclude other causes. MRI is helpful in delineating the presence, position, and extent of thymic tissue. Immunologic sequelae or recurrence after resection of an aberrant cervical thymus has not been reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = mandible (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/33. Near-fatal airway obstruction after routine implant placement.Implants have gained tremendous popularity over the past two decades, and their placement in the interior edentulous mandible has become routine. A case of near-fatal airway obstruction secondary to sublingual bleeding and hematoma is presented. The complication, anatomy of the area, and previous literature are reviewed, as are precautions to implant placement and other surgical procedures near the floor of the mouth. Although placing dental implants is generally a benign procedure, practitioners must be prepared for potential complications and have a rehearsed plan of action for the treatment of emergent situations. The floor of the mouth contains branches of the submental and sublingual and mylohyoid arteries that may lead to life-threatening complications. This caution obviously extends to any dentoalveolar surgical procedures that concerns the floor of the mouth such as tori removal, extractions, and iatrogenic dental injuries.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = mandible (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/33. Choking death on a live fish (Dicologoglossa cuneata).A choking death of a healthy fisherman, who put a type of live sole between his jaws to free up his hands so that he could collect more fish to put into his basket, is described. The fish squirmed into the larynx and upper trachea and the attempts to rescue the man by his colleagues who used pliers did not succeed, and the man died. Other published cases are reviewed, and risk factors and rescue possibilities discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.043032529235709keywords = jaw (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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