The case of a 13-month-old child who developed a life-threatening macroglossia with airway obstruction following palatoplasty for a cleft palate is reported. As direct laryngoscopy was not feasible a laryngeal mask (LM) was inserted to secure the airway. Under fiber optic guidance an endotracheal tube was then introduced via the LM. In this article the incidence, pathophysiology, clinical dynamics, options for emergency anesthesia management and organizational implications of this rare but typical complication in the field of oral and craniomaxillofacial surgery are reported.

Study Design: Analysis of intervertebral disc regeneration after disc height restoration by posterolateral spinal fusion with lumbar distraction of 68 patients diagnosed with degenerative lumbar instability. Objectives:To prove that preservation of lumbar lordosis with a simultaneous increase of intervertebral disc space and posterior intervertebral distraction can help the rehydration and regeneration of intervertebral discs.Methods: A consecutive series of 68 patients treated for degenerative lumbar instability with exclusive posterolateral spinal fusion. These patients were fused after posterior distraction of the unstable segments. Radiographic evaluation was performed pre and postoperatively by lumbar spine X-rays and MRI scans. Intervertebral disc space changes were measured at each fusion levels together with changes of lumbar lordosis. Disc water content changes were evaluated in T2-weighed sequences of postoperative MRI scans. Oswestry Disability Index was used for evaluation of the clinical outcome.