Comparison of microparticle transport and deposition in nasal cavity of three different age groups.

Objective: The nasal cavity effectively captures the particles present in inhaled air, thereby preventing harmful and toxic pollutants from reaching the lungs. This filtering ability of the nasal cavity can be effectively utilized for targeted nasal drug delivery applications. This study aims to understand the particle deposition patterns in three age groups: neonate, infant, and adult.Materials and methods: The CT scans are built using MIMICS 21.0, followed by CATIA V6 to generate a patient-specific airway model. Fluid flow is simulated using ANSYS FLUENT 2021 R2. Spherical monodisperse microparticles ranging from 2 to 60 µm and a density of 1100 kg/m3 are simulated at steady-state and sedentary inspiration conditions.Results: The highest nasal valve depositions for the neonate are 25% for 20 µm, for infants, 10% for 50 µm, 15% for adults, and 15% for 15 µm. At mid nasal region, deposition of 15% for 20 µm is observed for infant and 8% for neonate and adult nasal cavities at a particle size of 10 and 20 µm, respectively. The highest particle deposition at the olfactory region is about 2.7% for the adult nasal cavity for 20 µm, and it is <1% for neonate and infant nasal cavities.Discussion and conclusions: The study of preferred nasal depositions during natural sedentary breathing conditions is utilized to determine the size that allows medication particles to be targeted to specific nose regions.

A Simple Mandibular Distraction Protocol to Avoid Tracheostomy in Patients With Pierre Robin Sequence.

OBJECTIVE: Recent treatment goals for Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) focus on avoiding tracheostomy through modalities such as mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO). We primarily evaluated the efficacy of our straightforward MDO treatment protocol for resolution of PRS-associated airway obstruction while secondarily analyzing patient characteristics associated with success or failure of MDO. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review before and after treatment. SETTING: Tertiary institutional center and private practice setting. PATIENTS: All patients were diagnosed with PRS and treated with MDO, according to the MDO treatment protocol, by a single surgeon with the same operative technique from 1999 to 2013. A sample size of n = 38 met the inclusion criteria. Data assessed included tracheostomy status (pre-MDO, post-MDO, or none), microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy (MLB) findings, multipositional airway study results, clinical resolution of airway obstruction following MDO, and patient characteristics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Resolution of airway obstruction with avoidance of a tracheostomy. RESULTS: Prior to referral for MDO, five patients required urgent tracheostomy. Of patients without a pre-MDO tracheostomy (n = 33), two patients required tracheostomy post-MDO, while 94% avoided tracheostomy with clinical resolution of airway obstruction (n = 31). On secondary analysis, anatomic abnormalities diagnosed by MLB were associated with a higher rate of tracheostomy (P = .037), confirming the utility of preoperative evaluation with MLB; otherwise, no patient characteristics demonstrated significance in patient selection. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 10 years (mean = 6.45 years, median = 7.61 years). CONCLUSIONS: Our treatment protocol demonstrates MDO is highly effective for resolving severe airway obstruction related to PRS. Based on secondary analysis, our simplified protocol does not require amendment.

Large congenital cervical mass in a neonate: prenatal diagnosis and postnatal management of teratoma: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical teratomas are rare congenital neoplasms that can cause neonatal airway obstruction if large. CASE PRESENTATION: The female Persian neonate displayed respiratory distress at birth, with a 7 cm × 8 cm cystic solid mass identified on the left side of the neck. Antenatal ultrasonography revealed polyhydramnios. Despite initial stabilization, the infant required intubation and mechanical ventilation due to persistent respiratory distress. Imaging confirmed a cystic mass compressing the trachea, ruling out cystic hygroma. Surgical resection on postnatal day 17 revealed a 10 cm × 10 cm solid cystic structure, histologically identified as an immature teratoma. CONCLUSION: Despite risks of poor fetal and postnatal outcome from large cervical teratomas, early surgical resection after airway stabilization can result in recovery. Proper multidisciplinary management of respiratory distress from such tumors is paramount.

Computational fluid dynamics study of respiratory mask for neonatal resuscitation.

Face cups form a vital component of breathing, assisting with devices that aid in artificial breathing for neonates. This study aims to evaluate the flow parameters in the nasal cavity for two different types of face cups. The neonatal nasal cavity model was developed from CT scans using MIMICS 21.0. Two face cups, one hemispherical and the other anatomical shaped cups are developed around the nasal cavity and the airflow is simulated using ANSYS 2021 R2. Results are compared with a nasal-only model. At the nasal valve region, the highest velocity is seen for the nasal-only model which is 16.3% higher than that of the hemispherical face cup and 15.2% superior to the anatomical-shaped face cup. In addition, the decrease in pressure across the nasal-only model is 7.4 and 6.6% below that of the hemispherical cup and anatomical cup masks. The nasal resistance values across the nasal cavity are the lowest for the nasal-only model, 7.7 and 6.7% lower respectively than the hemispherical and anatomical-shaped cups. There were very minor changes in the flow parameters such as velocity, pressure and wall shear stress when comparing the hemispherical and anatomic-shaped masks for the airflow inside the nasal cavity.

Practical Way to Use Supraglottic Airway Device.

We read a review of case reports published on Current Pediatric Reviews 2024 about the use of I-gel® in neonatal complicated intubation, and we decided to write a commentary on the benefits and limitations of using supraglottic airways in neonatal age, with a specific focus on Igel [1]. The use of supraglottic airway devices in neonatal ages is limited to particular conditions, but further research is showing the utility of these devices as the first choice in neonatal resuscitation or airway stabilization. Our commentary highlights the broader practical applications of I-gel and reinforces its role as a valuable tool in neonatal resuscitation.

Tracheostomy in the extremely premature neonate - Long term outcomes in a multi-institutional study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the long-term outcomes related to breathing, feeding, and neurocognitive development in extremely premature infants requiring tracheostomy. STUDY DESIGN: Pooled cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Multi-institutional academic children's hospitals. METHODS: Extremely premature infants who underwent tracheostomy between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2019, at four academic hospitals were identified from an existing database. Information was gathered from responses to a questionnaire by caregivers regarding airway status, feeding, and neurodevelopment 2-9 years after tracheostomy. RESULTS: Data was available for 89/91 children (96.8%). The mean gestational age was 25.5 weeks (95% CI 25.2-25.7) and mean birth weight was 0.71 kg (95% CI 0.67-0.75). Mean post gestational age at tracheostomy was 22.8 weeks (95% CI 19.0-26.6). At time of the survey, 18 (20.2%) were deceased. 29 (40.8%) maintained a tracheostomy, 18 (25.4%) were on ventilatory support, and 5 (7%) required 24-h supplemental oxygen. Forty-six (64.8%) maintained a gastrostomy tube, 25 (35.2%) had oral dysphagia, and 24 (33.8%) required a modified diet. 51 (71.8%) had developmental delay, 45 (63.4%) were enrolled in school of whom 33 (73.3%) required special education services. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheostomy in extremely premature neonates is associated with long term morbidity in the pulmonary, feeding, and neurocognitive domains. At time of the survey, about half are decannulated, with a majority weaned off ventilatory support indicating improvement in lung function with age. Feeding dysfunction is persistent, and a significant number will have some degree of neurocognitive dysfunction at school age. This information may help caregivers regarding expectations and plans for resource management.

Otolaryngologists and Reproductive Rights.

Our nation faces contentious questions regarding reproductive rights and access to abortion which have long been viewed as beyond the scope of otolaryngology. The broad implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization (Jackson) impact all people who are, or can become, pregnant and their health care providers. The consequences for otolaryngologists are thus far-reaching and poorly understood. Here we describe how the post-Dobbs landscape is relevant to the practice of otolaryngology and offer suggestions for how otolaryngologists can best respond, prepare, and support their patients in this tenuous political landscape.

Unexpected Difficult Airway Management in a Grossly Malformed Newborn Baby With Tessier Cleft After an Emergency Cesarean Section.

Emergent obstetric deliveries may present the anesthesiologist with a unique challenge of managing the airway of previously undiagnosed syndromic or malformed newborns in the obstetric theatre. The present report describes an emergency cesarean section in a 32-year-old lady who delivered a newborn with grossly anomalous features, the challenges in airway management in the newborn, and a discussion on preparation and sensitization about encountering such scenarios for the anesthesiologist and the associated medical teams.

Nasal airflow comparison in neonates, infant and adult nasal cavities using computational fluid dynamics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Neonates are preferential nasal breathers up to 3 months of age. The nasal anatomy in neonates and infants is at developing stages whereas the adult nasal cavities are fully grown which implies that the study of airflow dynamics in the neonates and infants are significant. In the present study, the nasal airways of the neonate, infant and adult are anatomically compared and their airflow patterns are investigated. METHODS: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach is used to simulate the airflow in a neonate, an infant and an adult in sedentary breathing conditions. The healthy CT scans are segmented using MIMICS 21.0 (Materialise, Ann arbor, MI). The patient-specific 3D airway models are analyzed for low Reynolds number flow using ANSYS FLUENT 2020 R2. The applicability of the Grid Convergence Index (GCI) for polyhedral mesh adopted in this work is also verified. RESULTS: This study shows that the inferior meatus of neonates accounted for only 15% of the total airflow. This was in contrast to the infants and adults who experienced 49 and 31% of airflow at the inferior meatus region. Superior meatus experienced 25% of total flow which is more than normal for the neonate. The highest velocity of 1.8, 2.6 and 3.7 m/s was observed at the nasal valve region for neonates, infants and adults, respectively. The anterior portion of the nasal cavity experienced maximum wall shear stress with average values of 0.48, 0.25 and 0.58 Pa for the neonates, infants and adults. CONCLUSIONS: The neonates have an underdeveloped nasal cavity which significantly affects their airway distribution. The absence of inferior meatus in the neonates has limited the flow through the inferior regions and resulted in uneven flow distribution.

Tracheostomy on infants born in the periviable period: Outcomes at discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

OBJECTIVES: Advances in neonatal intensive care have allowed successful resuscitation of children born at the border of viability. However, there has been little change in the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and anatomical upper airway obstruction which may require a tracheostomy in that group. The benefits of the procedure are accompanied by sequelae that impact outcomes. Information about these issues can assist caregivers in making decisions and planning care after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics of neonates born in the periviable period (≤25 weeks gestation) requiring tracheotomy and to highlight their hospital course, complications and status upon NICU discharge. METHODS: Retrospective analysis at four tertiary care academic children's hospitals. Medical records of neonates born ≤25 weeks gestation who required tracheotomy between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2018 were reviewed. Demographics, medical comorbidities, and tracheostomy related complications were studied. Feeding, ventilation, and neurodevelopmental outcomes at time of transfer from NICU were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included. The mean gestational age was 24.3 (95% confidence interval, 24.1 to 24.5) weeks. The mean birth weight was 635 (95% CI: 603 to 667) grams and 50 (96.2%) children had BPD. At time of discharge from the NICU, 47 (90.4%) required mechanical ventilation, four (7.7%) required supplemental oxygen and one (1.9%) was weaned to room air. Forty-two (80.8%) were discharged with a gastrostomy tube, seven (28%) with a nasogastric tube, and three (5.8%) were on oral feeds. Two (3.8%) suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, 27 (51.9%) had neurodevelopmental delay, seven (13.5%) were diagnosed with another anomaly, and 16 (30.8%) were considered normal. Complications related to the procedure were observed in 28 (53.8%) neonates. Granulation tissue was seen in 17 (32.7%), wound break down or cellulitis in three (5.8%), one (1.9%) with tracheostomy plugging, three (5.8%) with dislodgement of the tracheostomy tube and four (7.7%) developed tracheitis. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheostomy in infants born in the periviable period is primarily performed for BPD and portends extended ventilatory dependence. It is associated with non-oral alimentation at the time of discharge from the NICU and developmental delay. Mortality directly related to the procedure is rare. Minor complications are common but do not require surgical intervention. These data may aid in counseling caregivers about the procedure in this vulnerable population.

Understanding hydrogen sulfide signaling in neonatal airway disease.

INTRODUCTION: Airway dysfunction leading to chronic lung disease is a common consequence of premature birth and mechanisms responsible for early and progressive airway remodeling are not completely understood. Current therapeutic options are only partially effective in reducing the burden of neonatal airway disease and premature decline of lung function. Gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recently recognized for its therapeutic potential in lung diseases. AREAS COVERED: Contradictory to its well-known toxicity at high concentrations, H2S has been characterized to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties at physiological concentrations. In the respiratory system, endogenous H2S production participates in late lung development and exogenous H2S administration has a protective role in a variety of diseases such as acute lung injury and chronic pulmonary hypertension and fibrosis. Literature searches performed using NCBI PubMed without publication date limitations were used to construct this review, which highlights the dichotomous role of H2S in the lung, and explores its promising beneficial effects in lung diseases. EXPERT OPINION: The emerging role of H2S in pathways involved in chronic lung disease of prematurity along with its recent use in animal models of BPD highlight H2S as a potential novel candidate in protecting lung function following preterm birth.

Ankyloglossum Superius Syndrome compromising a neonatal airway: Considerations in congenital oral airway obstructions.

We report the case of a 37-week old newborn presenting on day 1 of life with an apparent congenital fusion of the tongue to the hard palate, consistent with Ankyloglossum Superius syndrome. Physical exam along with endoscopy showed apparent fusion of the floor of the mouth to the anterior hard palate displacing the tongue into the nasal cavity and obstructing the oral airway. The child was nasotracheally intubated and brought to the operating room for lysis of the fusion under binocular microscopy. We review the literature on this rare condition and provide an algorithm for evaluating the neonatal airway in the setting of congenital oral abnormalities.

Clinical considerations when treating neonatal aspiration syndromes.

INTRODUCTION: In physiological conditions, neonatal airways are well-protected against aspiration of fluid or particulate material into the lungs, with laryngeal chemoreflex (LCR) being the most powerful mechanism. Failure of this protection allows substances to enter the lower airways, which starts a series of pathophysiological events initiated by inflammation and surfactant inactivation. The condition is defined as neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and its symptoms can range from mild respiratory distress to respiratory failure, often accompanied by persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), in turn even leading to death. The management, therefore, may be very challenging. Areas covered: This review covers protection mechanisms of the neonatal lower airways, the etiology, and pathophysiology of neonatal aspiration syndrome (NAS), its definition in view of current literature, possible treatment options, and future trends. Expert commentary: Inflammation and secondary surfactant deficiency stand in the foreground of neonatal aspiration. Management focuses mainly on appropriate oxygenation, ventilation, improvement in PPHN, and maintenance of systemic circulation, which is largely symptomatic and supportive. Future research is required to evaluate the justification of using exogenous surfactants, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative drugs, or their combinations.

Emergent airway management in the labor and delivery suite.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital airway obstruction is of varied etiology and uncommonly encountered. Prenatal care and imaging have enhanced detection of these abnormalities and allow for multi-disciplinary care planning for airway management at delivery. Despite the availability and advances in prenatal imaging, unanticipated airway obstruction may not be identified until the time of delivery. METHODS: Case series. RESULTS: Four airway emergencies were encountered in the labor and delivery suite over an eight-month period. Clinical history is correlated with autopsy findings. Congenital upper airway and laryngotracheal anomalies are reviewed. Recommendations to improve timely and efficient airway management in the labor and delivery suite are discussed and a protocol for a multi-disciplinary neonatal emergency airway response team is offered for consideration. CONCLUSIONS: The development and implementation of a multi-disciplinary emergency newborn airway protocol is both realistic and feasible. While it did not improve survivability in our small group, it did reduce response time. It, or a protocol like it, is recommended for institutions caring for high-risk pregnancies and with Neonatal Intensive Care Units with high acuity patients.

Sedation management during therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy: atropine premedication for endotracheal intubation causes a prolonged increase in heart rate.

AIM: Heart rate (HR) plays an important role in the assessment of stress during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for neonatal encephalopathy; we aimed to quantify the effect on HR of endotracheal (ET) intubation and drugs given to facilitate it. If atropine premedication independently increased HR, the main indicator of effective sedation, we hypothesised that increased sedation would have been given. METHODS: Thirty-two, term, neonates recruited into a randomised pilot study comparing TH and TH combined with 50% Xenon inhalation were studied. Indications for ET intubation included: resuscitation at delivery, clinical need and elective re-intubation with a cuffed ET tube if randomised to Xenon. Standard intubation drugs comprised one or more of intravenous morphine, atropine, and suxamethonium. Local cooling guidelines were followed including morphine infusion for sedation. RESULTS: At postnatal hours five to eight atropine increased HR in a linear regression model (p<0.01). All other independent variables were excluded. Where more than one dose of atropine was given total morphine sedation given up to 8h into the treatment period was significantly higher (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: We have shown that atropine premedication for ET intubation significantly increased HR, the main indicator of effective sedation and total morphine dose for sedation during early TH was increased where more than one dose of atropine was given. Bradycardia was not reported in any neonate, even without atropine premedication. We suggest that the use of atropine as part of standard premedication for ET intubation of term neonates undergoing TH should be reconsidered.

Oropharyngeal teratomas in newborns: management and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital teratomas of the oropharyngeal cavity are extremely rare and are associated with a high neonatal mortality rate due to severe airway obstruction. Management has been improved with progress in antenatal diagnosis. The authors describe this progress in the light of a series of 4 cases and a review of the literature. METHODS: The medical charts of four neonates treated in the department since 1995 were reviewed. The following criteria were studied: age at diagnosis, clinical and radiological features of the tumour, management at birth and outcome. RESULTS: All four cases occurred in female neonates with an antenatal diagnosis in two cases, allowing preparation for endoscopy in the delivery room in one case and an EXIT procedure in the other case. Three neonates had to be intubated in the delivery room. Imaging showed invasion of the infratemporal fossa in 3 of the 4 cases. Surgical resection via various approaches to the infratemporal fossa was complete in every case. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered in one case. CONCLUSION: Surgery for these mostly benign tumours is very challenging and requires a multidisciplinary team. Perinatal planning allows appropriate management at birth, decreasing the risk of airway obstruction. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment of teratomas.

Sling left pulmonary artery with patent type IIA tracheobronchial anomaly and imperforate anus.

We present a 3-month-old boy with a type IIA sling left pulmonary artery associated with imperforate anus and rectourethral fistula. Tracheobronchial abnormalities are demonstrated using multidetector CT with 3-D volume rendering of the airways. This case represents a novel variant of an already rare entity with an unusually high right upper lobe bronchus and no evidence of associated tracheobronchial stenosis.