Oropharyngeal airway appliace attached to maxillary plate in an infant with upper airway obstructive sleep apnea

We devised a new appliance, an oropharyngeal airway tube combined with a maxillary plate, to correct obstructive sleep apnea in a four-month infant with crouzon, hydrocephalus, and choanal atresia. This appliance was used for six months and had the following outstanding results.1) It is easy to place the tip of the tube at the obstructive portion of the airway.2) The tube does not deviate from the first position even after several usages, which is an improvement on other airways.3) It is possible for infants to keep the tip of the tube in the space of the lower pharynx by adhesion of the plate to the maxilla even if they move very much.4) This appliance can be in the oral cavity for a long time.5) This appliance is easier to put into place and take out compared with other airways.6) The infant tries to push the large appliance out of its mouth, resulting in development of the muscles which correct obstructive sleep apnea.7) This appliance can be also useful in oro-nasal airway stenosis.