Pediatric Maxillofacial Surgery: Anesthetic Approaches and Airway Management

Pediatric maxillofacial surgery airway management is difficult due to physiological and anatomical differences between children and adults. Pediatric patients have a bigger tongue, omega-shaped epiglottis, and cranially positioned larynx, which makes intubation and breathing difficult. For anesthesiologists, children with limited mouth opening can impair airway access and increase induction problems. Maxillofacial surgery includes oral, facial, ear, nose, and throat (ENT), plastic, neurosurgical, and base of skull operations. This article provides an overview of the various types of pediatric maxillofacial surgeries that are commonly performed. These surgeries include cleft lip and palate repair, mandibular distraction osteogenesis, orthognathic surgery, craniosynostosis surgery, and trauma treatment. Since pediatric maxillofacial surgery can significantly affect the airway, adequate airway management in these patients is a challenging task for anesthesiologists. This review article also discusses pediatric patients’ unique anesthesia and maxillofacial surgery challenges and specific anesthetic plans for each procedure. Anesthesiologists can improve pediatric maxillofacial surgery safety and outcomes by completely addressing these difficulties and personalizing anesthetic regimens for each patient.