AIRWAY MANAGEMENT IN ROBIN,PIERRE SEQUENCE

There is a great deal of controversy regarding the long-term managemen t of airway obstruction in children with Pierre Robin sequence. All 23 pediatric otolaryngology fellowship programs were surveyed to determi ne their current practice patterns. Issues that were addressed include d methods of evaluation of airway obstruction, including polysomnograp hy, choices for home care in children in whom observation and position ing treatment failed, and complications of the various treatment modal ities, The lack of unanimity among the respondents mirrors the controv ersy found in the literature, Though tracheotomy appears to be favored as the method of long-term management, responses from those surveyed often were based on emotions as much as on scientific data. This repor t details those findings and offers suggestions to clinicians involved with the management of patients with Pierre Robin sequence with airwa y compromise.