Respiratory inductance plethysmography and pulse oximetry in the assessment of upper airway patency in a child with Goldenhar's syndrome

Abstract

The anaesthetic management of a child with Goldenhar's syndrome and upper airway dysmorphology is presented. She had a history of severe dyspnoea due to deterioration of cor pulmonale caused by upper airway obstruction. The patency of the upper airway and oxygenation were evaluated during the perioperative period with respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) and pulse oximetry, which did not show severe upper airway obstruction or oxygen saturation below 80 per cent. Tracheal intubation was performed under inhalational anaesthesia with spontaneous breathing. This case suggests that RIP and pulse oximetry may be useful monitoring devices in the anaesthetic management of patients with upper airway problems as in Goldenhar's syndrome.