A reflectable case of obstructive sleep apnea in an infant with Crouzon syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea has recently drawn attention as a cause of sudden death among infants. Life-threatening obstruction of the upper airway is encountered in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis. Early definitive management of obstructive sleep apnea can conquer this critical situation. Although early tracheostomy can solve the problem, successful early midfacial distraction has been reported. In this report, a reflectable case of sudden death caused by a severe obstructive sleep apnea attack at home just before the midfacial distraction, during the waiting period for the surgery of midfacial distraction, is described. The authors stress the importance of preoperative care of the upper airway and the early definitive treatment using distraction osteogenesis for midfacial hypoplasia in infantile syndromic craniosynostosis.