Talk:Respiratory System - Upper Respiratory Tract
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, June 16) Embryology Respiratory System - Upper Respiratory Tract. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Talk:Respiratory_System_-_Upper_Respiratory_Tract |
2006
The upper airway: congenital malformations
Paediatr Respir Rev. 2006;7 Suppl 1:S260-3. Epub 2006 Jun 6.
Daniel SJ.
Source
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal Children's Hospital, 2300 Tupper Street, B-240, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3H 1P3. sam.daniel@muhc.mcgill.ca
Abstract
The upper airway extends from the nasal aperture to the subglottis and can be the site of multiple types of congenital malformations leading to anatomical or functional obstruction. This can cause severe respiratory distress. Newborns are obligate nasal breathers; therefore nasal obstruction can lead to airway compromise and respiratory distress. The etiologies are varied and include, choanal atresia, pyriform aperture stenosis, and rarely tumors such as glioma, encephalocele, teratoma, or dermoid. More common upper airway congenital anomalies include laryngomalacia, vocal cord paralysis, and subglottic stenosis. Laryngolmalacia is the most common congenital laryngeal anomaly. Inspiratory stridor often does not present until two weeks after birth and resolves by 18 months of age. Most cases are managed with watchful waiting. Severe cases require a surgical intervention. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis is usually idiopathic. In certain cases, paralysis may occur secondary to central nervous system abnormality including Arnold-Chiari malformation, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, myelomeningocele, spina bifida, or hypoxia. Severe cases may necessitate endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy. Congenital subglottic stenosis is the third most common laryngeal anomaly. It is defined as a diameter of less than 4mm of the cricoid region in a full-term infant, and less than 3mm in a premature infant. This condition is the most common laryngeal anomaly that requires tracheotomy in newborns. Laryngotracheoplasty may be required to achieve decanulation. Knowledge of the upper airway embryological development and congenital anomalies is off prime importance in assessing the newborn with respiratory distress. In most cases flexible endoscopy establishes the diagnosis. Management is tailored to each condition and its degree of severity.
PMID 16798587
2004
Development, structure and function of the upper airways
Paediatr Respir Rev. 2004 Mar;5(1):2-8.
Pohunek P. Source 2nd Paediatric Department, Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, University Hospital Motol, V Uvalu 84, 150 06 Praha 5, Czech Republic. petr.pohunek@lfmotol.cuni.cz Abstract The upper airways play an essential role in the conduction of air into the lungs, and influence the properties of the inhaled air by both the anatomical structure and the functional properties of the mucosa, cartilages and neural and lymphatic tissues. The upper airways also play an important role in the protection of the lower airways, in the formation of the sound and host the sense of olfaction. Main events in the development of the upper airways happen during early embryonic periods. Postnatally, the growth of the airways follows the growth of the skeleton of the head and of the neck and thorax. Growth is accelerated mainly during the first 2 years of life; thereafter, it linearly follows the growth of the body. For a profound understanding of the function of the upper airways, it is important to understand the main developmental events during both prenatal and postnatal periods.
PMID 15222948
