RT Book, Section
A1 Aujla, Shean J.
A1 Garrod, Andrea
A2 Kline, Mark W.
SR Print(0)
ID 1182916362
T1 Disorders Causing Airway Obstruction
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e
YR 2018
FD 2018
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259588594
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182916362
RD 2024/04/19
AB It  is  important  to  recognize  the  differences  between  the  pediatric  and  adult  upper  airways  to  fully  understand  why  even  a  relatively  minor  obstruction  can  cause  significant  airway  compromise  in  children.  The  pediatric  airway  is  shorter  and  narrower,  and  the  larynx  is  placed  more  anterior  than  in  adults.  Young  children,  and  infants  especially,  have  a  large  tongue  in  relation  to  the  small  oropharynx.  They  also  have  a  larger  epiglottis.  Signs  of  partial  inspiratory  obstruction  include  stridor  (a  high-pitched  sound  heard  on  inhalation),  hoarseness,  and  increased  work  of  breathing  (suprasternal  and  intercostal  retractions).  Stridor  can  be  inspiratory  or  expiratory,  depending  on  whether  the  obstruction  is  supraglottic  or  subglottic,  respectively.  If  the  obstruction  is  severe  or  near-complete,  worsening  agitation,  cyanosis,  and  respiratory  failure  likely  will  occur.  Although  acute  stridor  usually  is  infectious  in  etiology,  other  disorders  may  be  present,  especially  when  symptoms  are  severe  or  persistent.  This  chapter  discusses  inspiratory  airway  obstruction  of  infectious  and  noninfectious  origin.