Effect of upper airway obstruction on pulmonary arterial pressure in children

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to examine the elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure in children with upper airway obstruction caused by adenotonsillar hypertrophy according to their disease severity assessed with symptom scoring and to demonstrate the profit for echocardiographic monitorization of the children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy regardless of their clinical status. METHODS: Thirty-nine children with a diagnosis of upper airway obstruction caused by adenotonsillar hypertrophy were included for the study. There were 16 female and 23 male patients. Ages of the children were between 3 and 10 years with a mean age of 5.78+/-1.98. Twenty children composed the control group with a similar age and sex distribution but without any sign and symptom of upper airway obstruction. Mean pulmonary arterial pressures were measured by Doppler echocardiography preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Symptom scores were calculated for each patient in the study group to assess their disease severity. The significances of changes and relations between pressure levels and symptom scores were calculated by statistical package for social sciences (SSPS) computer program in terms of Student's test, chi(2)-test and Mc Nemar's test. RESULTS: Mean pulmonary arterial pressure were 26.26+/-5.40 (14-36) preoperatively, 16,61+/-2.68 (10.15-22.3) postoperatively and 16.54+/-2.63 (10.5-21.7) in the control group. There were a statistically significant decrease at pressure levels postoperatively and a significant difference from the levels in the control group (Student's t-test, p<0.01). We found no correlation between the pressure levels and disease severity assessed in terms of symptom scoring. CONCLUSION: This study showed that upper airway obstruction caused by adenotonsillar hypertrophy causes significant elevation of pulmonary arterial pressures and adenotonsilectomy is an absolute therapeutic method in these children. Every child with adenotonsillar hypertrophy has some probability of having pulmonary hypertension regardless of his or her disease severity. Therefore, performing echocardiographic examination to all children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy is beneficial for assessing the cardiopulmonary status of the patient and may be useful at decision making for adenotonsilectomy.     

喉显微外科技术在严重新生儿上气道梗阻中的应用

目的 探讨严重新生儿上气道梗阻病因、临床特征及喉显微外科手术疗效,以提高新生儿阻塞性呼吸困难的诊治水平。 方法 采用观察性研究,分析16例咽喉相关的严重上气道梗阻新生儿临床资料。 结果 共纳入患儿16例(男9例、女7例),出生后7~28 d出现临床症状,包括吸气性呼吸困难、喉喘鸣、三凹征等。其中先天性喉软化症6例、下咽及舌根囊肿3例、喉部血管瘤2例、喉入口畸胎瘤1例、先天性喉蹼1例、双声带麻痹1例、继发性声门下狭窄1例、插管后喉粘连1例。16例患儿均给予相应显微外科治疗,手术顺利。顺利拔管患儿15例,仅1例喉软化症患儿拔管后仍有明显呼吸困难,行气管切开。 结论 严重新生儿上气道梗阻多与咽喉病变相关,需早期行局部及全身检查明确病因及诊断,对有手术指征者积极采取微创手术治疗,可挽救患儿生命,取得满意疗效。     

Giant laryngoceles: a cause of upper airway obstruction

Laryngoceles and saccular cysts, which are abnormal dilatations of the laryngeal saccule, are uncommon. The etiology is unknown but is probably related to both congenital and acquired factors. These structures are usually asymptomatic and are incidentally discovered through radiographic studies for unrelated symptoms. We describe two patients with upper airway obstruction, one caused by a giant laryngocele and the other by a large saccular cyst. In the former patient, acute tracheotomy had to be performed. The laryngocele and saccular cyst were removed surgically, which relieved patients’ symptoms of upper airway obstruction. Received: 19 September 2000 / Accepted: 28 December 2000     

Nocturnal enuresis in children with upper airway obstruction

This article reviews 35 children between the ages of 3 1/2 and 11 years who have had symptoms of upper airway obstruction and enuresis. Twenty-eight patients had primary enuresis, and 7 had secondary enuresis. Removal of upper airway obstruction by surgical intervention led to a significant decrease or complete cure of nocturnal enuresis in 26 patients. Four children were studied with polysomnographic tracings in relationship to their enuresis.     

Management of an infant with prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of upper airway obstruction

We report a case in which a cervical teratoma was diagnosed antenatally in the mid third trimester. In anticipation of potential upper airway obstruction, resources were mobilized to the operating room at the time of the planned cesarean section. The neonate was unable to breathe, but his airway was secured without delay. There was no evidence of cerebral anoxia initially or at one year follow-up. As prenatal diagnosis by ultrasound becomes more refined, the otolaryngologist will play an increasing role in perinatal decision making and anticipated emergencies at the time of delivery. Airway obstruction of various causes will be the most urgent problem.     

Hamartoma of the larynx: an unusual cause of upper airway obstruction

Hamartomas are rare lesions in the larynx. Both clinical and histopathological findings may be misleading to both the physician and the pathologist in terms of diagnosis. A 51-year-old female with the complaints of nonproductive cough and severe dyspnea lasting for a year was found to have a subglottic, submucosal mass almost totally obstructing the laryngeal lumen. Excisional biopsy was performed under suspensory direct laryngoscopy. Histopathological examination showed numerous, large, distended blood vessels, some of which had prominent thickened walls and mature adipose tissue beneath the surface epithelium. The final diagnosis was hamartoma, but we discussed its validity and other possible identifications in accordance with the literature.     

Use of helium-oxygen mixtures to relieve upper airway obstruction in a pediatric population

OBJECTIVES: Helium as a component of inspired gas decreases turbulent flow and airway resistance. Helium-oxygen mixtures have been used since the 1930s in the management of patients with upper airway obstruction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of helium-oxygen mixtures in relieving upper airway obstruction in a pediatric population. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of 42 pediatric patients who received helium-oxygen mixtures for upper airway obstruction within a 3-year period. METHODS: The study protocol included 42 pediatric patients, aged 1 week to 14 years, who were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from June 1997 to December 2000 and who received a total of 44 treatments of helium-oxygen therapy for upper airway obstruction. Response to treatment was determined by reduction in work of breathing noted on the chart. RESULTS: Thirty-two of 44 helium-oxygen treatments resulted in a positive response (73%). There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between responders and nonresponders, except all of the premature infants were responders and 6 of the 9 patients with syndromes were nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS: Helium-oxygen therapy is a useful adjunct therapy for upper airway obstruction. Controlled clinical trials are necessary to better define the appropriate settings for use of helium-oxygen.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者上呼吸道的CT研究

目的 :探讨阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征 (OSAS)患者和正常人的上呼吸道CT资料的差异。方法 :对经多导睡眠监测 (PSG)确诊的OSAS患者和年龄性别相近的正常成年人各 5 3例 ,采用螺旋CT对上呼吸道进行连续扫描 ,测量并比较两组间有关数据。结果 :OSAS组软腭后区、悬雍垂区和舌后区的横截面积均明显小于对照组 ;左右径在所测量的 4个平面中均明显短于对照组 ;而前后径的比较除悬雍垂区以外 ,两组间差异均不明显 ;前后径 /左右径比值在会厌后区差异不显著 ,其余 3个区域差异明显 ;咽后壁的软组织厚度比较软腭后区和悬雍垂区差异明显 ,咽侧壁的软组织厚度比较 ,4个测量平面差异均显著 ,软腭后区咽侧脂肪面积比较差异不显著。结论 :上呼吸道的解剖性狭窄是OSAS的主要发病原因之一 ,造成上呼吸道解剖性狭窄的主要原因是咽侧壁软组织的明显增厚并导致气道左右径的缩短     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者上气道MRI观察

目的　通过比较清醒状态下阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征 (obstructivesleepapneasyndrome,OSAS)患者与健康人上气道及其周围软组织的差异 ,探讨OSAS的发生机制。方法　应用磁共振成像 (magneticresonanceimagiug ,MRI)对 1 8例经多导睡眠监测 (PSG)确诊的OSAS患者的上气道扫描 ,对上气道的软腭后区 (retropalatalregion ,RP)、舌后区 (retroglossalregion ,RG)和会厌区 (epiglottalregion ,EPG)截面积、各区咽壁厚度、RP区咽侧脂肪垫 (lateralparapharyngealfatpad ,LPFP)的截面积等进行测量。选择 1 9例无打鼾的同年龄组健康人做对照组。结果　①患者组RP、RG区气道截面积小于对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;患者组EPG区气道截面积与对照组无统计学差异 (P =0 2 0 4) ;②患者组RP、RG、EPG区气道前后径与左右径 (AP/L)比值均大于对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;③患者组RP区LPFP截面积大于对照组 ,(P <0 0 1 ) ;④患者组RP、RG、EPG区咽后壁厚度大于对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ,患者组RP区咽侧壁厚度与对照组无统计学差异 ,而患者组RG和EPG区咽侧壁厚度均大于对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;⑤正中矢状位测量患者软腭截面积、厚度和长度均大于对照组 (P <0 0 1 )。结论　上气道截面积及其AP/L比值、咽侧壁厚度、咽后壁厚度 ,RP区L     

Müller状态下128排螺旋CT三维重建在OSAS患者上气道阻塞平面评估中的价值

目的 探讨Müller状态下128排螺旋CT上气道薄层扫描及三维重建技术在评估阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征(OSAS)患者上气道阻塞平面中的价值。 方法 选取42例成人中重度OSAS患者,分别于平静呼吸和Müller状态(模拟睡眠憋气状态)下行128排螺旋CT薄层轴位扫描并行上气道三维重建,测量并比较两种状态下相同上气道平面各横截面积、各径线长度、软腭悬雍垂长度及厚度、舌骨至硬腭距离等参数。 结果 与平静呼吸状态相比,Müller状态下除会厌后区前后径的差异无统计学意义(t=1.837, P =0.073),其余各阻塞平面的前后径、左右径等径线测量值及横截面积的差异有统计学意义(腭后区左右径、前后径、横截面积的t分别为6.214、6.969、8.192, P均<0.001;舌后区左右径、前后径、横截面积的t分别为6.170、2.510、8.579, P分别<0.001、0.016、<0.001;会厌后区左右径、横截面积的t分别为4.279、6.104, P均<0.001);软腭厚度、软腭及悬雍垂长度差异均有统计学意义(t分别为-4.473、5.724, P均<0.001);舌骨的位置下移,差异有统计学意义(t=-6.302, P<0.001)。 结论 Müller状态下128排螺旋CT上气道薄层扫描及三维重建技术可评估OSAS患者上气道阻塞平面和各平面软组织的顺应性,有助于阻塞平面的分类,为OSAS患者个体化治疗方案的选择提供参考。     

Intrathyroid hemorrhage and acute upper airway obstruction after fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland

OBJECTIVES: Although hematoma formation after fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the most commonly encountered complication, massive intrathyroid hemorrhage producing acute upper airway obstruction rarely occurs. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: This case presented a 55-year-old woman with acute intrathyroid hemorrhage producing upper airway obstruction after diagnostic FNA of multiple thyroid nodules. RESULTS: The patient underwent endotracheal intubation and subsequent total thyroidectomy because of rapid progression of airway symptoms. During operation, the thyroid gland showed a huge, edematous, firm swelling and intrathyroidal hemorrhage with no obvious actively bleeding vessels. Microscopic examination of the resected gland revealed bilateral multiple nodular hyperplasia and massive parenchymal hemorrhage with thin-walled, aberrantly enlarged vessels. CONCLUSION: Acute intrathyroid hemorrhage causing upper airway obstruction can develop after FNA of the thyroid. Prompt and adequate interventions are needed for patients with rapid progression of acute thyroid hemorrhage.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征上气道CT扫描临床应用

目的通过CT扫描确定阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syn-drome,OSAHS)病人上气道阻塞部位,指导临床制订治疗方案,判断治疗效果。方法对30例OSAHS病人进行上气道CT扫描,分别测量鼻咽、口咽及喉咽腔横截面积。与30名正常成人进行比较。结果OSAHS病人咽腔3个部分的横截面积自小至大顺序排列为口咽<鼻咽<喉咽;OSAHS病人鼻咽及口咽横截面积与正常成年人相比有统计学意义(P<0.01)。18例OSAHS病人在接受了悬雍垂腭咽成形术(UPPP)手术术后进行上气道CT扫描,口咽部平均横截面积由(67.5±16.78)mm2扩大至(156.63±28.62)mm2(P<0.001)。结论正常成人口咽部是咽腔最狭窄的部位;OSAHS病人口咽部横截面积小于100 mm2时,建议手术治疗。UPPP术后上气道CT扫描可客观判定手术效果。     

呼吸气囊辅助下紧急经皮气管切开术在呼吸道灼伤并发上呼吸道梗阻中的应用

上呼吸道梗阻是吸入性损伤早期严重并发症。部分患者伤后早期无明显梗阻迹象,但在水肿高峰期（8-24h）逐渐增重,并发严重上呼吸道梗阻,被迫行紧急气管切开,但此时行气管切开或气管插管并非易事。及时建立有效人工气道是抢救成功的关键。我院ICU于2008—09—2013—03对8例因火灾引起气道吸入性损伤并发严重上呼吸道梗阻患者,在气管插管失败的情况下,在呼吸气囊辅助下紧急实施了经皮气管切开术,效果良好,现报告如下。