Respiratory distress following cleft lip repair: the role of obligatory nasal breathing in the infant.

It is widely held that neonates are obligatory nasal breathers. Although cleft lip repair may compromise the nasal airway, respiratory distress following such a procedure is rarely reported. A review of the literature reveals that only a minority of neonates are obligatory nasal breathers. When the nasal airway is compromised in these patients, however, respiratory distress may result. Two patients with this complication are presented, and their successful treatment with a nasopharyngeal airway is described.