Nasopharyngeal Tube and Functional Treatment in Pierre Robin Sequence: A Tertiary Clinical Experience From 150 Cases.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To describe the initial care practices for children with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) and analyze the factors predicting the severity of the obstruction breathing disorders. DESIGN: A retrospective single-center study of 150 children with PRS. SETTING: Single tertiary care center, Regional Competence Center for the diagnosis and treatment of PRS. PATIENTS A total of 150 children with PRS consecutively followed between 1986 and 2017. Group 1 comprises children without specific respiratory management; group 2, children requiring prone positioning to alleviate their respiratory distress symptoms; and group 3, children requiring nasopharyngeal airway tube (NT) or nonconservative surgical treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evolution and results of the initial treatment of PRS. RESULTS: Forty-two percent (n = 63) were attributed to group 1, 39% (n = 50) to group 2, and 19% (n = 29) to group 3. Preterm birth, birth weight, or associated congenital malformations were not significantly different between the groups. However, the age of exclusive oral feeding was significantly different 1 day (quartiles 0-3) for group 1; 11 days (quartiles 1-28) for group 2; 39 days (quartiles 19-111) for group 3 (P < .0001). Considering the NT, its use relieves the upper airway obstruction, assessed by a respiratory polygraphy, in 14 children. CONCLUSIONS: Nasopharyngeal airway tube has become our major first-line treatment, avoiding more complex procedures in most of the cases. The achievement of exclusive oral feeding seems to be a good predictor of the severity of respiratory symptoms in PRS.