@article {Abel331, author = {Francois Abel and Yogesh Bajaj and Michelle Wyatt and Colin Wallis}, title = {The successful use of the nasopharyngeal airway in Pierre Robin sequence: an 11-year experience}, volume = {97}, number = {4}, pages = {331--334}, year = {2012}, doi = {10.1136/archdischild-2011-301134}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Introduction Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is a congenital anomaly presenting with micrognathia, glossoptosis and a cleft palate. This study describes a decade{\textquoteright}s experience of the management of upper airway obstruction (UAO) in PRS patients with a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA). Methods This study was conducted by paediatric respiratory and otolaryngology departments. Children with PRS referred with UAO were evaluated according to a standard protocol. Data collected included the degree of airway obstruction, method of airway management, polysomnography data before and after intervention, and longer term follow-up. Results Data were collected on 104 PRS patients referred to us for airway assessment in 2000{\textendash}2010. 64/104 were aged \<4 weeks at referral. Airway symptoms were managed conservatively in 27 patients (25.9\%), with an NPA in 63 (60.6\%) and a tracheostomy in 14 (13.4\%). The average duration of NPA use was 8 months (3 weeks to 27 months). Polysomnography results improved in all 63 patients with an NPA. Fourteen severely obstructed patients underwent a tracheostomy. 86.5\% (90/104) of PRS patients were managed conservatively or with the help of an NPA. There were no NPA related complications. Conclusion There is a spectrum of UAO in PRS. This study reports on long-term outcomes in 104 children with PRS and airway obstruction. In most children (86.5\%), airway obstruction was managed by conservative measures or with an NPA for a few months. The natural history shows that with normal growth, airway compromise resolves without immediate surgical intervention as advocated by some practitioners. Few PRS children require a tracheostomy.}, issn = {0003-9888}, URL = {https://adc.bmj.com/content/97/4/331}, eprint = {https://adc.bmj.com/content/97/4/331.full.pdf}, journal = {Archives of Disease in Childhood} }