Pediatric Airway

Question 1

What is the difference between peds airway and adult airway

Answer 1

• Tongue size is relatively large compared to mouth size
• Larynx at C3-C4 vs Adult at C4-C5
• Infants have large narrow epligottis
• Vocal chords re slanted, higher posteriorly and lower anteriorly
• Large occiput thus harder to align the oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axes
• Cricoid is narrowest part of airway in kids whereas in adults it is the vocal chords
• Kids have a more compliant rib cage, more horizontal rib cage
• Kids have immature lung pneumocytes and diaphragm muscle fibers, decomponsate quickly and prone to fatigue
• Immature myocardium and HR dependent
• Increased basic metabolic rate + increased surface area leads to greater heat loss
• Total body water for kids is 70-80 percent, adults is 55-60%