Upper airway anomalies in children: From diagnosis to treatment

Paola Serio; Denise Colosimo; Roberto Baggi; Stefano Avenali; Nicole Mussi; Luca Bertelli; Susanna Esposito; Maria Majori; Lorenzo Corbetta; Valentina Fainardi

doi:10.23750/abm.vi.15246

Upper airway anomalies in children: From diagnosis to treatment

Authors

Paola Serio Respiratory Endoscopy Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
Denise Colosimo Meyer Childrens Hospital, IRCCS, Dept Anesthesia & Crit Care, Anesthesiology Unit, Florence, Italy
Roberto Baggi Respiratory Endoscopy Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
Stefano Avenali Respiratory Endoscopy Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
Nicole Mussi Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Luca Bertelli Pediatric Unit, University Hospital of Bologna IRCCS, Bologna, Italy
Susanna Esposito Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Maria Majori Pulmonology and Endoscopic Unit, University-Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
Lorenzo Corbetta Interventional Pulmonology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Valentina Fainardi Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.vi.15246

Keywords:

airway malformations, children, endoscopy, laryngomalacia, cleft, stenosis, web, vocal cords

Abstract

Endoscopy of the airways plays a crucial role to investigate respiratory symptom and signs in newborns and children. Upper airway anomalies include malformations and acquired conditions found from the nose to the larynx. Common anomalies of the upper airways include laryngomalacia, vocal cord paralysis and subglottic stenosis. In the child their clinical presentation is often characterized by dysfunction in breathing, feeding or phonation. Most severe cases of congenital anomalies can present with respiratory distress at birth. Endoscopy is important not only for detection and diagnosis but also for treatment that is tailored to each condition depending on disease and severity. This review describes the commonest congenital or acquired anomalies of the upper airways seen in children.

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