Airway obstruction due to massive tongue edema after cleft palate operation.

Although several complications are encountered after cleft palate operation, airway obstruction due to massive tongue edema is rarely reported. However, this complication may be life threatening, and the definite etiology remains unclear. We recently treated two patients with massive tongue edema, which developed shortly after cleft palate operation. The management of this complication is described and the pertinent literature is reviewed. We conclude that during cleft palate operations, the oropharyngeal cavity including the tongue must be thoroughly examined before extubation, and if any sign of tongue edema exists, the tube should be left in place for a while to maintain the airway.