Conservative Airway Management Successful in Majority of Infants With Pierre-Robin Sequence at Queensland Children’s Hospital: A Retrospective Review

Purpose: Pierre-Robin Sequence (PRS) is a congenital abnormality characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis, and variable severity upper airway obstruction. Clear management algorithms are lacking, particularly the indications for surgical versus nonsurgical intervention. The authors reviewed the management of these children in Queensland. Methods: All children diagnosed with PRS at Queensland Children’s Hospital from April 2014 to October 2019 were identified (n=45), and their charts were retrospectively reviewed. Three management patterns emerged: prone/lateral positioning, nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) use, and surgery (tracheostomy or mandibular distraction). Results: Most children (n=30; 67%) were managed successfully nonsurgically with an NPA (median age of insertion 0.25 mo, median duration 5.0 mo). Of these, 12 patients (40%) also required supplemental oxygen. The median age of NPA cessation was 5.5 months, with oxygen therapy ceasing at a median 8.25 months, upon which no further support was required. The remaining majority (n=13; 29%) of children were managed without an NPA, using positioning alone (10/13; 77%) or positioning combined with supplemental oxygen (1/13), CPAP (1/13), or both adjunct measures (1/13). Only 2 patients underwent surgical intervention. Feeding supplementation using nasogastric tube was necessary in 78% of patients for a median duration of 4 months. Cleft palate co-existed in all but one patient. Conclusion: Management of upper airway obstruction in PRS children is variable between units. Over a 5-year period, 96% of children with PRS were successfully managed without surgical intervention at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. These findings contrast with some other literature and may suggest that more careful consideration of surgical intervention in PRS patients is prudent.