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A Rare Indication for the EXIT Procedure

Kathryn Ossowski, BS; Dana L. Suskind, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005;131:58-60.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

INTRODUCTION

Advances in prenatal imaging allow for early diagnosis of possible airway obstruction in fetuses. The ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure has been developed to aid in obtaining control of the airway at birth in an anticipated "difficult" airway. The EXIT procedure is a form of utero-placental bypass, allowing added time for the establishment of an airway and for performance of necessary procedures on the fetus prior to clamping of the umbilical cord. This requires a multidisciplinary approach usually involving obstetricians, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, otolaryngologists, and nurses.¹

The EXIT procedure was originally described for the reversal of tracheal clips in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.² Reported indications have expanded to include giant neck masses, congenital high airway obstruction syndrome, fetuses with severe congenital heart disease predicted to benefit from an EXIT–to–extracorporeal membrane oxygenation strategy, large congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, and unilateral pulmonary . . . [Full Text of this Article]

REPORT OF A CASE

COMMENT

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Author Affiliations: Department of Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.