Cirugía neonatal maxilofacial: 10 a？os de experiencia (1994 a 2005)

the universe of study was composed of all the neonates (21) seen at our hospital from 1994 to 2005. the oral maxillofacial pathology that they presented at birth and endangered their lives was assessed to apply surgical treatment. among the main causes requiring medical care were feeding difficulties (85,8 %) and ventilatory difficulties (61,9 %). the physical neonatal exam also detected the oral maxillofacial pathology in 61,9 % of cases. the problems in the rest of neonates were detected in the intensive care unit. of the total number, 80,5 % of children were born from term pregnancy and 66,7 % were born with adequate weight. females, caucasians and urban environment predominated. the most common treated pathologies were vascular malformations (19 %), pierre robin syndrome (14,3 %) and oralpharyngeal tumors (14,3 %). postoperative complications occured only in patients affected by pierre robin syndrome (2 patients; 9,6 %). five children died (21,7 %), mainly those with trisomy, whose birthweight ranged from 1000 to 2500 g (80 %)and low apgar score at one minute and at 5 minutes of birth.