Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft; neonatal presentation and diagnostic challenges

Congenital laryngeal clefts are rare developmental disorders of the upper airway accounting for 0.3% to 0.5% of all congenital anomalies of the larynx. The study is reporting the research team's first experience with this anomaly at the Armed Force Hospital Southern Region to emphasize the difficulties and the challenges in the diagnosis as well as the treatment of such infants. This is a 32 week preterm female infant with antenatal ultrasound diagnosis of isolated esophageal atresia. After delivery the team faced a great difficulty in intubation and passing nasogastric tube. A large NGT size 12FR passed to the stomach, and contrast study showed abnormal anteriorly located esophagus, which suggested a common esophageo-tracheal tract. Esophagogram and soft fibro-optic endoscopy was done by ENT consultant which confirmed the presence of long segment laryngo-trachea-esophageal cleft. The infant was transferred to tertiary center where she died from respiratory failure at the age of 6 months

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: diagnosis and the challenge of management

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome is a rare disease characterized by a lack of automatic, but with intact, voluntary control of breathing. Patients with this disease need assisted ventilation mostly during sleep. To the best of our knowledge our patient is the first case reported among Saudi and Arab children. Since these patients need special respiratory care with difficulties in family adaptation, reappraisal is needed of the available therapeutic option in the kingdom, including the availability of adequate support for home ventilation at different regions