The epulis of the newborn is a granular cell tumor that originates from the mucosa of the gingiva.
Case presentation: The authors report a case of a 4-day-old neonate with a large mass arising from the right upper gingival area and occupying most of the oral cavity who presented for surgery with a potentially difficult airway. Intubation was achieved uneventfully using a gaseous induction with an appropriate-size facemask and displacement of the epulis to allow cautious laryngoscopy.
Discussion: General anesthesia offers good airway protection and also alleviates the stress and pain associated with the surgery.
Conclusion: Congenital epulis is a relatively rare congenital tumor of a newborn, which is one of the causes of difficult airways in neonates and children. However, after slight manipulation of the tumor, endotracheal intubation for the administration of general anesthesia is attainable.
Keywords: congenital epulis; general anesthesia; newborn.
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