During the growth period, mouth breathing caused by upper airway obstruction can adversely affect normal development of children's maxillofacial region, manifesting various types of growth patterns and facial appearance. Therefore, to further understand the influence of different obstructive parts of upper airway on maxillofacial growth patterns, this knowledge would be helpful for clinicians in guiding the normal development of children's maxillofacial region. This review describes the common causes of oral breathing, and analyzes the maxillofacial development characteristics of children with different upper airway stenosis anatomical planes and various age stages. In order to provide a reference frame basis for the intervention timing, program formulation and the maintenance of the post-operative efficacy of children with oral breathing.
Humans ; Maxillofacial Development ; Child ; Mouth Breathing/physiopathology* ; Airway Obstruction

Objective: To compare the severity of symptoms of patients diagnosed with Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis (eCRSwNP) versus Non - Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis (non-eCRSwNP) using the Filipino Sinonasal Outcome Test (Filipino SNOT 22) and determine the most common symptoms experienced by patients with eCRSwNP versus non-eCRSwNP. : Methods Design: Cross-Sectional Study Setting: Tertiary Government Training Hospital Participants: A total of 68 patients diagnosed with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis (CRSwNP) from November 7, 2018 to August 31, 2022 were included in the study. Results: Of the 68 patients included in the study, 33 (48.5%) had non-eCRSwNP while 35 (51.5%) had eCRSwNP. The age of the patients with non-eCRSwNP group was 50.6 + 18.45 and those with eCRSwNP was 52.9 + 16.6 years old. Non-eCRSwNP patients had a lower mean Filipino SNOT 22 score of 39.7 ± 16.1 compared with eCRSwNP with a score of 62.7± 13.5. The non-eCRSwNP patients had symptom severity classified as mild in 2 (6.1%), moderate in 25 (75.8%) and severe in 6 (18.2%) based on Filipino SNOT-22. Among the eCRSwNP group, majority of the patients, 29 (82.9%) were classified as severe, 6 (17.1%) as moderate, and none with mild severity. Using the Filipino SNOT 22, the most common symptoms of patients with eCRSwNP were item 2 (baradong ilong; nasal blockage) at 28.6%, then item 7 (malapot na sipon; thick nasal discharge) at 25.7%, Item 8 (pagbabara ng tenga; ear fullness) and item 12 (pagkawala/ pagkabawas ng panlasa/ pang amoy; decreased sense of smell/taste) were tied at 14.3%, item 13 (hirap sa pagtulog; difficulty falling asleep) at 25.7%, and item 17 (pagkapagod; fatigue during the day) at 31.4% while patients with no-eCRSwNP were noted with item 2 (baradong ilong; nasal blockage) at 48.5%, followed by item 4 (hindi tumitigil na pagtulo ng sipon; runny nose) at 21.2%, item 11 (pananakit ng mukha; facial pain) at 33.3%, Item 7 (malapot na sipon; thick nasal discharge) at 18.2%, and item 20 (pagiging irritable/pagkainis; irritability) at 21.2%. Conclusion Our present study suggests that the higher the SNOT 22 score, the more likely it is to be eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis. Although nasal blockage was the most common symptom found in both patients with eCRSwNP and non-eCRSwNP, patients with thick nasal discharge, decreased sense of smell/taste and ear fullness were more likely to be suffering from eCRSwNP, while patients with runny nose, facial pain and thick nasal discharge were more likely to have non-eCRSwNP.
Sinusitis ; Endoscopic Surgical Procedure ; Endoscopy ; SNOT-22 ; Sino-Nasal Outcome Test ; Nasal Blockage ; Nasal Obstruction

Objective:To explore the perioperative airway management and treatment of newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia. Methods:From January to December 2022, a total of 6 newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia were included. Preoperative laryngoscopy revealed concomitant laryngomalacia. These micrognathia were diagnosed as Pierre Robin sequences. All patients had grade Ⅱ or higher symptoms of laryngeal obstruction and required oxygen therapy or non-invasive ventilatory support. All patients underwent simultaneous laryngomalacia surgery and mandibular distraction osteogenesis. The shortened aryepiglottic folds were ablated using a low-temperature plasma radiofrequency during the operation. Tracheal intubation was maintained for 3-5 days postoperatively. Polysomnography（PSG） and airway CT examination were performed before and 3 months after the surgery. Results:Among the 6 patients, 4 required oxygen therapy preoperatively and 2 required non-invasiveventilatory support. The mean age of patients was 40 days at surgery. The inferior alveolar nerve bundle was not damaged during the operation, and there were no signs of mandibular branch injury such as facial asymmetry after the surgery. Laryngomalacia presented as mixed type: type Ⅱ+ type Ⅲ. The maximum mandibular distraction distance was 20 mm, the minimum was 12 mm, and the mean was 16 mm. The posterior airway space increased from a preoperative average of 3.5 mm to a postoperative average of 9.5 mm. The AHI decreased from a mean of 5.65 to 0.85, and the lowest oxygen saturation increased from a mean of 78% to 95%. All patients were successfully extubated after the surgery, and symptoms of laryngeal obstruction such as hypoxia and feeding difficulties disappeared. Conclusion:Newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia have multi-planar airway obstruction. Simultaneous laryngomalacia surgery and mandibular distraction osteogenesis are safe and feasible, and can effectively alleviate symptoms of laryngeal obstruction such as hypoxia and feeding difficulties, while significantly improving the appearance of micrognathia.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Micrognathism/surgery* ; Laryngomalacia/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Mandible/surgery* ; Airway Obstruction/surgery* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngeal Diseases ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Oxygen ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To discuss the clinical characteristic and treatment of laryngeal cysts in infants. Methods:The clinical data of 19 patients diagnosed with laryngeal cysts in Department of Otolaryngology, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from November 2017 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results:All of the 19 patients were diagnosed as laryngeal cysts, with clinical manifestations included respiratory distress, inspiratory dyspnea, difficulty in feeding and low and weak crying, etc. All of them were cured after surgical treatment. Conclusion:Misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis of laryngeal cysts are prone to occur in infants and young children. After diagnosis, patients should undergo early surgical treatment to remove airway obstruction and improve ventilation.
Pregnancy ; Infant ; Child ; Humans ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Laryngeal Diseases/surgery* ; Airway Obstruction/surgery* ; Laryngoscopy ; Cysts/surgery* ; Dyspnea/surgery*

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Airway Obstruction/complications* ; Laryngostenosis/surgery* ; Tracheostomy

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical and bronchoscopic characteristics of tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB) in children and to identify factors influencing residual airway obstruction or stenosis. METHODS: The clinical data of children with TBTB were retrospectively collected. The children were divided into two groups based on the last bronchoscopic result within one year of follow-up: a group with residual airway obstruction or stenosis (n=34) and a group without residual airway obstruction or stenosis (n=58). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing residual airway obstruction or stenosis in children with TBTB. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the predictive value of the factors influencing residual airway obstruction or stenosis in children with TBTB. RESULTS: A total of 92 children with TBTB were included, and the main symptoms were cough (90%) and fever (68%). In children under 1 year old, the incidence rates of dyspnea and wheezing were significantly higher than in other age groups (P<0.008). Chest CT findings included mediastinal or hilar lymph node enlargement (90%) and tracheobronchial stenosis or obstruction (61%). The lymphatic fistula type was the main type of TBTB observed bronchoscopically (77%). All children received interventional treatment, and the effective rate was 84%. During one year of follow-up, 34 children had residual airway obstruction or stenosis. The TBTB diagnostic time and the initiation of interventional treatment were significantly delayed in the group with residual airway obstruction or stenosis compared with the group without residual airway obstruction or stenosis (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the TBTB diagnostic time was closely related to residual airway obstruction or stenosis in children (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that at the cut-off value of 92 days of TBTB diagnostic time, the area under the curve for predicting residual airway obstruction or stenosis in children with TBTB was 0.707, with a sensitivity of 58.8% and a specificity of 75.9%. CONCLUSIONS The clinical manifestations of TBTB are nonspecific, and symptoms are more severe in children under 1 year old. TBTB should be suspected in children with tuberculosis and chest imaging indicating airway involvement. Delayed diagnosis of TBTB is associated with the development of residual airway obstruction or stenosis.
Infant ; Child ; Humans ; Bronchoscopy/methods* ; Constriction, Pathologic/complications* ; Bronchial Diseases/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis/diagnosis* ; Airway Obstruction/therapy*

Infants with laryngotracheal anomalies are clinically manifested as stridor or noisy breathing, choking, hoarseness, feeding difficulties, and cyanotic spells, followed by developmental and growth retardation and other health issues; in severe cases, patients may present with severe dyspnea, which is associated with high mortality. A timely diagnosis as well as appropriate strategy for laryngotracheal anomalies is still challenging for pediatric otolaryngologists. This consensus statement, evolved from expert opinion by the members of the Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Professional Committee of the Pediatrician Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, provides comprehensive recommendations and standardized guidance for otolaryngologists who manage infants and young children with laryngotracheal anomalies in evaluation and treatment based on symptomatology, physical and laboratory examinations.
Humans ; Child ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Laryngostenosis/surgery* ; Airway Obstruction/complications* ; Hoarseness/complications* ; Consensus ; Respiratory Sounds

Humans ; Child ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Airway Extubation ; Airway Obstruction/prevention & control* ; Intubation, Intratracheal/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To discover the factors that may affect the use of selective tracheostomy among patients who have undergone head and neck surgeries with free flap reconstruction, so that the patients will not need tracheostomy nor receive the unnecessary treatment. METHODS: Five hundred and thirty-three patients who had undergone head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction operated by the same team of surgery at Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Peking University School of Stomatology from 2015 to 2016 were reviewed. Three hundred and twenty-one (60.2%) of these patients underwent selective tracheostomy. All the patients' demographic information, operation-related information, prior treatments, comorbidities and complications were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The patients with defects of the tongue, mouth floor, oropharynx and bilateral mandible, who underwent neck dissection and with previous radiotherapy and smoking habit were more likely to get selective tracheostomy. Usage of bulky soft tissue flap might also add to the risk of airway obstruction and the need of selective tracheostomy, while other factors were not significantly related to the risk of postoperative airway obstruction and the patients could be kept safe without selective tracheostomy. Most cases without tracheostomy were kept safe except one case, while 8.39% of the patients with tracheostomy suffered from tracheostomy related complications, mainly pneumonia and hemorrhage of the tracheostomy wound, yet none led to serious consequences or even death. CONCLUSION Selective tracheostomy is not necessary for patients who have undergone head and neck surgeries with free flap reconstruction except that there are defects at the tongue, oropharynx and mandible. Neck dissection, bulky soft tissue flap reconstruction, previous radiotherapy and smoking habit may also add to the risk of postoperative airway obstruction, while a favorable decision would involve a combination of all the above factors to assure the safety of the postoperative airway for the patients undergone head and neck surgeries with free flap reconstruction.
Airway Obstruction/surgery* ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery* ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheostomy

Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of neonates with upper airway obstruction (UAO) who were admitted via transportation, hence to provide more evidence-based information for the clinical management of UAO. Methods: This was a single center retrospective study. Patients were hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital from January 1, 2016 to May 31, 2021 with age <28 days or postmenstrual age (PMA) ≤44 weeks, and UAO as the first diagnosis. The general information of patients, obstructed sites in the upper airway, treatment, complications and prognosis were analyzed. The outcomes of surgical UAO vs. non-surgical UAO were analyzed by 2 by 2 χ² test. Results: A total of 111 cases were analyzed (2.3% of the total NICU hospitalized 4 826 infants in the same period), in which 62 (55.9%) were boys and 101 (91.0%) were term infants, and their gestational age was (38.7±2.0) weeks, birth weight (3 207±585) g, PMA on admission (40.8±2.5) weeks and weight on admission was (3 221±478) g. There were 92 cases (82.9%) with symptoms of UAO presenting on postnatal day 1, and 35 cases (31.5%) had extra-uterine growth retardation on admission. The diagnosis of UAO and the obstructive site was confirmed in 25 cases (22.5%) before transportation. There were 24 cases (21.6%), 71 cases (64.0%), and 16 cases (14.4%) who had UAO due to nasal, throat, and neck problems, respectively. The top 5 diagnosis of UAO were vocal cord paralysis (28 cases), bilateral choanal atresia (20 cases), laryngomalacia (15 cases), pharynx and larynx cysts (7 cases), and subglottic hemangioma (6 cases). The diagnosis and treatment of all the patients followed a multidisciplinary approach consisted of neonatal intensive care unit, ear-nose-throat department and medical image departments. A total of 102 cases (91.9%) underwent both bronchofiberscope and fiber nasopharyngoscope investigation. Seventy cases (63.1%) required ventilation. Among the 58 cases (52.3%) who required surgical intervention, 16 had tracheotomy. For cases with vs. without surgical intervention, the rate of cure and (or) improvement were 94.8% (55/58) vs. 54.7% (29/53), and the rate of being discharged against medical arrangement were 1.7% (1/58) vs. 45.3% (24/53) (χ²=24.21 and 30.11, both P<0.01). Conclusions: Neonatal UAO may locate at various sites of the upper airway. The overall prognosis of neonatal UAO is favorable. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for efficient evaluation and appropriate surgical intervention.
Airway Obstruction/therapy* ; Child ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies ; Trachea