[The change of difficulty in intubation as growth in patients with Treacher-Collins syndrome and Pierre-Robin syndrome].

BACKGROUND

Previous reports revealed that difficulties in tracheal intubation for patients with Treacher-Collins syndrome (TCS) progresses as growth; however it declines in those with Pierre-Robin syndrome (PRS). We tried to confirm these reports.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined the anesthetic records of intubated patients with TCS and PRS without tracheotomy from January 2002 to August 2006.

RESULTS

We experienced 10 times of intubation in 5 TCS patients and 6 times in 4 with PRS. No obvious change was observed in its difficulty depending on the growth in both syndromes.

CONCLUSIONS

The difficulty of intubation depends on the characteristics of each patient rather than growth.