Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T08:36:26.977Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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: [email protected]

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 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Castilho, SD, Rocha, MA. Pacifier habit: history and multidisciplinary view [in English, Portuguese]. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2009;85:480–9Google Scholar
2Carbajal, R, Chauvet, X, Couderc, S, Oliver-Martin, M. Randomised trial of analgesic effects of sucrose, glucose, and pacifiers in term neonates. BMJ 1999;319:1393–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3O'Sullivan, A, O'Connor, M, Brosnahan, D, McCreery, K, Dempsey, EM. Sweeten, soother and swaddle for retinopathy of prematurity screening: a randomised placebo controlled trial. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2010;95:F419–22CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Sorrell, J, Carmichael, C, Chamlin, S. Oral sucrose for pain relief in young infants with hemangiomas treated with intralesional steroids. Pediatr Dermatol 2010;27:154–5Google Scholar
5Kapellou, O. Blood sampling in infants (reducing pain and morbidity). Clin Evid (Online) 2009:0313Google ScholarPubMed
6Jagannathan, N, Truong, CT. A simple method to deliver pharyngeal anesthesia in syndromic infants prior to awake insertion of the intubating laryngeal airway. Can J Anaesth 2010;57:1138–9Google Scholar
7Hawkins, DB, Clark, RW. Flexible laryngoscopy in neonates, infants, and young children. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1987;96:81–5Google Scholar
8Botma, M, Kishore, A, Kubba, H, Geddes, N. The role of fibreoptic laryngoscopy in infants with stridor. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2000;55:1720Google Scholar
9Moumloudis, I, Gray, RF, Wilson, T. Outpatient fibre-optic laryngoscopy for stridor in children and infants. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2005;262:204–7Google Scholar
10Kayaykar, R, Gray, RF. Per oral awake flexible fibre-optic laryngoscopy in the investigation of children with stridor without respiratory distress. J Laryngol Otol 2001;115:894–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed