Perioperative Care of Neonates with Airway Obstruction

Evaluation and treatment of the newborn presenting with airway dysfunction or obstruction demands close collaboration between the anesthesiologist, neonatologist, otolaryngologist, and craniofacial surgeons. Anesthesiologists may be involved in situations of neonatal lifesaving airway rescue, diagnostic processes under GA, or more definitive corrective treatment scenarios. These challenging patients may present with a difficult airway and necessitate the use of specific anesthetic techniques to provide optimal conditions for a precise diagnosis. A comprehensive evaluation of each patient is essential. This review will address most of the major pathologies of the newborn airways with the objective of helping to establish a rational plan for anesthesia.