Distal Airway Lesions in Mandibular Distraction Patients.

Objective: 1) Determine prevalence and type of synchronous airway lesions (SALs) in patients undergoing mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) at Children's Memorial Hospital. 2) To determine whether these SALs affect surgical success of MDO in relieving airway obstruction. Method: Restrospective review of patients with micrognathia undergoing MDO and direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy (DLB) over a period of 11 years (2001-2011) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Charts were reviewed for demographics, prevalence/type of SALs, success rate for airway improvement for MDO, and coexisting medical and craniofacial conditions. Results: Eighteen patients were found who had undergone both MDO and DLB. The incidence of at least 1 SAL was 77.8%. Types of SALs encountered include laryngeal edema (61.1%), tracheobronchitis (50%), laryngomalacia (38.9%), tracheomalacia (16.7%), bronchomalacia (16.7%), subglottic stenosis (11.1%), pulsatile airway compression (11.1%), posterior laryngeal cleft (0%), and subglottic cysts (0%). 94.4% of MDO patients received tracheostomy, and 88.9% had airway improvement following MDO. Craniofacial anomalies include micrognathia (100%), cleft palate (61.1%), midface hypoplasia (33.3%), craniosynostosis (5.6%), choanal stenosis/atresia (5.6%), pyriform aperture stenosis (5.6%), and macroglossia (0%). Baseline medical characteristics/syndromes include Pierre Robin sequence (61.1%), Nager syndrome (11.1%), Stickler syndrome (11.1%), asthma (11.1%), Goldenhar syndrome (11.1%), arthrogryposis (5.6%), Mobius syndrome (5.6%), and Cornelia de Lange syndrome (5.6%). Conclusion: There is a high rate of SALs in patients undergoing MDO. The most common SALs are laryngeal edema, tracheobronchitis, and laryngomalacia. MDO is highly successful in relieving upper airway obstruction in micrognathic patients despite the high incidence of SALs. DLB should be considered in all patients who require MDO.