Awake bronchoscopy-guided nasotracheal intubation in a child with Treacher Collins syndrome and obstructive sleep apnoea

Abstract

Flexible videobronchoscopy-guided awake intubation is the standard of care in adult patients with negligible mouth opening presenting for corrective surgeries. Although paediatric and neonatal flexible bronchoscopes are available, they are seldom used for awake intubation due to a lack of cooperation from children. A highly sensitive airway coupled with an increased risk for bronchospasm in children precludes attempts in performing bronchoscopy without any sedation. As a result, elective tracheostomy is often performed in such children with anticipated difficult airways. Our report describes the rationale, procedure and implications of videobronchoscopy-guided nasotracheal intubation under conscious sedation in a 5-year-old child with Treacher Collins syndrome or mandibulofacial dysostosis complicated by obstructive sleep apnoea.