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Per-oral flexible laryngoscopy in awake neonates and infants: the ‘pacifier’ technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2014

P Loizou
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK
N Haloob*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK
E Evgeniou
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic Surgery, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss N Haloob, Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Lister Hospital, Coreys Mill Lane, Stevenage SG1 4AB, UK Fax: 01438 781849 E-mail: nora.haloob@nhs.net

Abstract

Background:

It is common for ENT specialists to be called to neonatal intensive care units to assess neonates with suspected laryngomalacia. At Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, it is standard practice to initially try to assess the larynx whilst the patient is awake. This can cause the patient to cry and become irritable, and can induce worry in the parents. A literature search revealed that numerous procedures have been successfully performed on neonates and infants whilst they were being pacified.

Objectives:

This paper describes various procedures where pacification has been used effectively. Furthermore, it reports a pacification technique developed for per-oral flexible laryngoscopy in awake neonates and infants.

Type
Short Communications
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

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