Complete cleft lip and palate in a preterm infant: An airway management challenge on a neonatal unit

Prematurity combined with bilateral cleft lip and palate presents significant challenges in airway and respiratory management. This case report shares the experience of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team where an instance of unplanned extubation challenged the team to consider solutions in supporting the airway, where standard non-invasive ventilation equipment was unsuitable due to the baby’s facial anatomy. The case focuses on the difficulties encountered, the innovative solutions implemented and the key lessons learned from this experience.

Dr Hannah Rogers
Paediatric Registrar ST5

Dr Sanjeev Rath
Consultant Neonatal Paediatrician

Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Full text available by subscription ...

The full text of this article is available to subscribers in text, and in Tablet/iPad format and as a PDF file.

Please subscribe and log in to see the full article.

Keywords

cleft lip and palate; prematurity; respiratory management

Key points

Prematurity combined with bilateral cleft lip and palate presents significant challenges in airway and respiratory management.
Managing a preterm baby with bilateral cleft lip and palate requires understanding of complex facial anatomy and addressing the associated airway management challenges.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 17/ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2021

Independent prescribing from an ANNP perspective: a reflective analytical case study

This analytical case study reflects on independent prescribing from the perspective of an Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP). Focusing on a premature infant admitted to the neonatal unit for intensive care management and monitoring, the article serves to demonstrate prescribing decision-making skills including comprehensive critical analysis and synthesis of the competency dimensions within a competency framework.