Case report of neonate Pierre Robin sequence with severe upper airway obstruction who was rescued by finger guide intubation

Abstract Background Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) patients are known for their triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and airway obstruction. Their airway can be a challenge even for the most experienced pediatric anesthesiologist. Case presentation We report the case of a 9 day old 3.5 kg boy diagnosed with PRS, cleft palate, and a vallecular cyst with severe upper airway obstruction. The combination of PRS, cleft palate and the presence of vallecular cyst made this a cascade reaction of difficult airway. Due to his unique anatomy, we didn’t appreciate how difficult his airway was until multiple attempts with high-tech equipment failed. Ultimately it was the finger guide intubation, this old technique without any equipment, that rescued this patient from lose of airway. Conclusions The boy was successfully rescued by finger guided intubation. Finger guide intubation should be added to the anesthesiologist’s newborn rescue intubation training.