Semilobar Holoprosencephaly with Congenital Oropharyngeal Stenosis in a Term Neonate

Abstract

Background Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is often accompanied by a deficit in midline facial development; however, congenital oropharyngeal stenosis in neonates with HPE has not been reported before. We describe a case of a neonate with prenatally diagnosed semilobar HPE accompanied by congenital oropharyngeal stenosis. Case Report The patient was born at 39 weeks of gestation and developed dyspnea shortly after. Laryngoscopic test revealed oropharyngeal stenosis. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure, high-flow nasal cannula, and nasopharyngeal airway did not resolve her dyspnea; tracheostomy was required. Conclusion Neonates with HPE might be at higher risk of pharyngeal stenosis because of the functional and/or anatomical abnormalities. In the case of dyspnea in neonates with HPE, laryngoscopic evaluation should be considered.

Keywords: congenital pharyngeal stenosis; holoprosencephaly; oropharyngeal stenosis.

Fig. 1

Laryngoscopic findings of the oropharynx. We looked down the patient's oropharynx from the posterior nasal cavity. Her oropharyngeal lumen was narrow, plugged by secretion, and opened slightly with labor only during inspiration.