Pediatric Airway Flashcards
What is the general shape of the pediatric airway?
Funnel shaped to the cricoid
What is the most narrow component of the pediatric airway?
Cricoid
The location of the pediatric oropharynx is the result of what?
Epiglottis sitting behind the soft palate
Where is the pediatric airway, relative to the adult? What is the functional significance of this?
More superior–allows kids to feed and breathe simultaneously
What is the narrowest part of the adult airway?
Nasopharynx
The higher location of the airway in infants allows for what, which cannot be done with adults
Breathing and eating at the same time
What is stridor?
Vibration of noise in the airway
What is the location of the lesion with an inspiratory stridor? Expiratory?
Inspiratory = external Expiratory = Internal
Why are kids more susceptible to croup than adults?
Airway is much smaller in diameter
How can you assess for tracheoesophageal atresia in infants?
NC passed at birth
What is the most common type of tracheoesophageal atresia in infants?
EA with distal TEF
How do infants breathe?
Obligate nasal breather, with periodic apnea
What is choanal atresia?
A congenital disorder where the back of the nasal passage (choana) is blocked, usually by abnormal bony or soft tissue (membranous) due to failed recanalization of the nasal fossae during fetal development.
What is pyriform aperture stenosis?
The anterior nasal aperture (pyriform or pyriform aperture) is a heart- or pear-shaped opening in the human skull.
What are the three major neoplastic conditions that cause congenital airway obstruction at the level of the nasal cavity?
- Encephalocele
- Dermoids
- Gliomas
Where do the tear ducts drain?
Inferior meatus
What is the foramen that the thyroid descends into?
Foramen cecum
What gender has a higher incidence of choanal atresia?
Females
What is the most likely cause of choanal atresia?
Persistence of buccopharyngeal membrane
What is pyriform stenosis usually associated with?
- Holoprosencephaly
- Central mega incisor
What is the most common source of nasal obstruction in infancy?
Rhinitis of infancy
What is the prognosis for rhinitis of infancy?
Self resolving
What is rhinitis of infancy?
Persistent nasal congestion in the first 6 months of life, with no clear etiology
How do you diagnose rhinitis of infancy?
Otoscope
X-ray
What is lingual thyroid?
Thyroid does not descend into the neck, causing obstruction
What are vallecular cysts?
a rare type of laryngeal cyst seen in infants
What is a common cause of airway obstruction with Down syndrome?
Macroglossia
What is the sequelae of OSA in kids?
Right sided cardiomegaly
What is the prognosis for retropharyngeal abscesses?
- Lethal in adults
- Airway obstruction is more concerning in kids
How do you diagnose retropharyngeal abscesses in kids?
- Look
- CT if needed
What is the most common cause of a upper airway obstruction in the oro hypopharynx?
Tonsillar / adenoid hypertrophy