Approach to Pediatric Airway

Introduction

Anatomically & functionally, the pediatric airway can be divided into upper & lower segments at the glottis (larynx) or large & small airways at the transition from the cartilage-containing bronchi proximally to the distal airways that lack supporting cartilage. The superimposed disease processes may be extrinsic or intrinsic, & they may manifest as acute or chronic airway compromise at a variety of ages. Broad categories of airway compromise include congenital airway obstructions (e.g., choanal atresia), acute infectious etiologies (e.g., croup, epiglottitis), noninfectious intrinsic & extrinsic obstructions (e.g., foreign bodies, vascular rings), & obstructive sleep apnea (e.g., tonsillar hypertrophy, glossoptosis). These general categories of disease are not always distinct, with some processes affecting multiple levels or presenting later in childhood despite an underlying congenital issue.

Imaging Modalities