Facial nerve palsy: a complication following anaesthesia in a child with Treacher Collins syndrome

Anesthesia for Treacher Collins syndrome: a review of airway management in 240 pediatric cases

OBJECTIVES

To review airway management with anesthesia for children with Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) and determine whether intubation was more difficult with increasing age.

BACKGROUND

Treacher Collins syndrome is a rare disorder of craniofacial development characterized by maxillary, zygomatic, and mandibular dysplasia. TCS is associated with difficult intubation, but reports of airway management are limited to case reports and small cases series. Children with TCS may require multiple general anesthetics, and it has been suggested that intubation becomes more difficult with increasing age.

METHODS

A retrospective case note review of children with TCS from birth to 18 years undergoing anesthesia from 1971 to 2011 in a single center was performed. Demographic data, procedure type, anesthesia type, method of airway management, modified Cormack-Lehane (MCL) grade of laryngoscopic view, and any other descriptions of airway difficulty or complications were collated.

RESULTS

Of 59 patients with TCS, 35 children underwent a total of 240 anesthetics, most commonly for craniofacial surgery. Final airway management consisted of face mask 17%, laryngeal mask airway 16%, endotracheal intubation 49%, and 18% had a preexisting tracheostomy. The laryngeal mask airway provided an adequate airway in all cases when it was used. MCL grade was recorded in 97 cases involving 28 patients: 7% grade 1, 9% grade 2a, 31% grade 2b, 26% grade 3, and 27% grade 4. Fifteen (54%) patients were MCL grade 4 on at least one occasion. Failed intubation occurred in 6 (5%) of 123 cases of planned intubation. The procedure was canceled in two cases (0.8%) because of failure to intubate. Intubation techniques other than conventional direct laryngoscopy were used in 41% of cases. MCL grade increased with increasing age (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Most children with TCS have difficult laryngoscopic views with many requiring specialized intubation techniques. Direct laryngoscopy becomes more difficult with increasing age. The laryngeal mask airway is a good choice of airway when endotracheal intubation is not required.

Interim obturator in an infant with Treacher Collins syndrome: Review and chairside modification in impression making

Treacher Collins syndrome has been described as a syndrome involving 1st and 2nd branchial arches, affecting various organs in the craniofacial region. Affected infants report with nasal regurgitation and minimal dietary intake due to cleft palate, consequently show delayed and retarded growth. The situation is further complicated when the repair of the palatal defect is postponed due to delayed milestones. At this juncture, it is of paramount importance to intervene prosthetically and close the defect with the aid of an interim obturator. Herein we describe a simple, yet successful, chairside approach to make an impression of an infant without the aid of any kind of anesthesia.

Facial nerve paralysis after cervical traction

Cervical traction is a frequently used treatment in rehabilitation clinics for cervical spine problems. This modality works, in principle, by decompressing the spinal cord or its nerve roots by applying traction on the cervical spine through a harness placed over the mandible (Olivero et al., Neurosurg Focus 2002;12:ECP1). Previous reports on treatment complications include lumbar radicular discomfort, muscle injury, neck soreness, and posttraction pain (LaBan et al., Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1992;73:295-6; Lee et al., J Biomech Eng 1996;118:597-600). Here, we report the first case of unilateral facial nerve paralysis developed after 4 wks of intermittent cervical traction therapy. Nerve conduction velocity examination revealed a peripheral-type facial nerve paralysis. Symptoms of facial nerve paralysis subsided after prednisolone treatment and suspension of traction therapy. It is suspected that a misplaced or an overstrained harness may have been the cause of facial nerve paralysis in this patient. Possible causes were (1) direct compression by the harness on the right facial nerve near its exit through the stylomastoid foramen; (2) compression of the right external carotid artery by the harness, causing transient ischemic injury at the geniculate ganglion; or (3) coincidental herpes zoster virus infection or idiopathic Bell's palsy involving the facial nerve.

Ophthalmic Management of Facial Nerve Palsy: A Review

Facial nerve palsy affects individuals of all ages, races, and sexes. Psychological and functional implications of the paralysis present a devastating management problem to those afflicted, as well as the carriers. Since Sir Charles Bell's original description of facial palsy in 1821, our understanding and treatment options have expanded. It is essential that a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing ophthalmologists; Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeons; plastic surgeons; and psychologists work closely to optimize patient management in a staged approach. Although the etiology remains unknown, strong histological, cerebral spinal fluid, and radiological evidence suggests a possible association with herpes simplex virus in idiopathic facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy). The use of steroids has been suggested as a means of limiting facial nerve damage in the acute phase. Unfortunately, no single randomized control trial has achieved an unquestionable benefit with the use of oral steroid therapy and thus remains controversial. In the acute phase, ophthalmologists play a pivotal role in preventing irreversible blindness from corneal exposure. This may be successfully achieved by using intensive lubrication, medical therapy (botulinum toxin), or surgery (upper lid weighting or tarsorraphy). Once the cornea is adequately protected and recovery deemed unlikely, longer term planning for eyelid and facial reanimation may take place in an individualized manner. Onset is sudden and management potentially lengthy. Physician empathy, knowledge, and experience are essential in averting long-term lifestyle and psychological discomfort for patients.