Abstract
BACKGROUND: Midface advancements in children with syndromic craniosynostosis present challenges for anesthesiologists and intensive care teams. AIMS: This study reviewed the perioperative airway management protocol for immediate tracheal extubation after midface surgery at our tertiary center over the past 10 years. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed to obtain information on respiratory disorders, surgical and anesthetic management, airway support, and respiratory complications following le Fort III (LF3) and monobloc (MB) with distraction. Patients with a tracheostomy were excluded. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (12 LF3, 20 MB) were included. All were immediately extubated with a median of 25 min after surgery. Immediate extubation was performed in young patients (n = 8/32, < 5 years old), in patients with severe OSA (n = 6/32, median oAHI 23/h), with difficult airways (n = 5/32, Cormack-Lehane airway grade ≥ 3), with significant intraoperative blood loss (n = 32, median 46 mL/kg), and with long operative times (n = 32, median 223 min). The majority of patients received no or only oxygen support in the first hours after extubation (n = 29/32) and could be discharged from the pediatric intensive care unit to the surgical ward after 1 day (n = 30/32). A 5-month-old patient with MB required intermittent oxygen and Guedel airway throughout his hospitalization due to airway obstruction at the tongue base combined with supine positioning to allow external traction. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the pre-existing airway disorder, the extent of the procedure and the effect of anesthesia on airway tone, all patients were extubated immediately after midface advancement, with only one young patient needing prolonged postoperative support. Immediate extubation is feasible following midface advancement in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis. Further prospective randomized trials are needed to demonstrate superiority to delayed extubation.