Paediatric Anatomy

Question 1

Signs of paediatric respiratory distress

Answer 1

Recession, substernal-intercostal retraction

Stridor- upper airway resistance, usually inspiratory, expiratory late sign

Head bobbing, adults use accessory muscles, however these are less effective in pads

Grunting, often in paed- works to create PEEP to overcome resistance in the glottis, or lower
respiratory tract

Nasal flaring

Question 2

Name some paed anatomy differences to adults

Answer 2

Mainly nose breathers

Large head, short neck-neck flexion

Trachea diameter is small and short

Eustachian tubes, tube that connect middle ear and nose, are wide and straight, more prone to infection

Large epiglottis, horse shoe shaped, more difficult to visualise

Small oral cavity

Soft laryngeal cartilage

Delicate mucosa

Large tongue

Small jaw

Loose teeth

Larynx is narrow, epiglottis is Large and Carina is symmetrical

Larynx is higher and more anterior sits at c3/4 adults c5/6

Cricoid is the narrowest point

Large dead space 1/3 tidal volume

Limited alveoli space

Higher respiratory rate
Greater metabolic rate
Higher minute volume
Relative few fatigue resistant muscle fibres, tire more easily