Management of fetal airway obstruction

Semin Perinatol. 1999 Dec;23(6):496-506. doi: 10.1016/s0146-0005(99)80028-7.

Abstract

Fetal airway obstruction can make it difficult if not impossible to secure the airway at birth, before hypoxia, brain injury, or death results. Fetal airway obstruction can result from an intrinsic defect in the airway, such as the congenital high airway obstruction syndrome or extrinsic compression of the airway caused by a cervical mass, most commonly a cervical teratoma or lymphangioma. As fetuses with fetal airway obstruction reach viability, they should be monitored closely for the development or progression of hydrops in intrinsic obstruction cases or polyhydramnios in extrinsic obstruction cases. The fetus should be delivered by using the ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure, with maintenance of uteroplacental circulation and gas exchange. This approach provides time to perform procedures such as direct laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, or tracheostomy to secure the fetal airway, thereby converting an emergent airway crisis into a controlled situation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Airway Obstruction / diagnosis
  • Airway Obstruction / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction / surgery*
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / surgery*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / complications
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / embryology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Lymphangioma / complications
  • Lymphangioma / embryology
  • Lymphangioma / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Pregnancy
  • Syndrome