Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is endangering human health seriously now. We had reviewed some typical animal model which had at least one OSAS character of intermittent hypoxia and/or hypercapnia, upper airway obstruction and sleep structure disorder. However, all of these models could not simulate clinical and pathological features of OSAS completely. Establishing a suitable animal model to study OSAS and related diseases is very important.
Airway Obstruction ; etiology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Hypercapnia ; etiology ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications

Airway Obstruction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Aspergillosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Larynx

OBJECTIVETo investigate the causes of severe upper respiratory tract obstruction in neonates.

METHODSForty seven cases with severe dyspnea history were reviewed and retrospective analysis performed. Clinical manifestation, direct laryngoscope, CT, X-ray barium meal examination results and the treatment process were recorded.

RESULTSAmong 47 neonates, 41 cases were congenital diseases, accounting for 87.2% (41/47). In 41 cases, 15 cases were congenital laryngeal stridor, accounting for 31.9%, involving 6 cases accompanied by the gastroesophageal reflux. Fourteen cases were congenital upper respiratory tract cyst (10 cases of lingual root cyst, 3 cases of epiglottis cyst, 1 case of laryngeal cyst), accounting for 29.8%, in which 13 cases were misdiagnosis as congenital laryngeal stridor. Others were 6 cases of acute membrane laryngotracheobronchitis, 3 cases of congenital main respiratory tract stenosis, 2 cases of congenital laryngeal webs, 2 cases of vocal cord paralysis, 3 cases of Pierre Robin syndrome, 2 cases of Cri-du-chat syndrome. Except for 3 in 47 cases whose parents refused treatment, dyspnea in other 44 cases were relieved with inhaling oxygen and drug treatment, 37 case received tracheal intubation and sputum suction, 19 cases received direct laryngoscope or self-retaining laryngoscope operation.

CONCLUSIONSCongenital disease is the main cause of severe upper respiratory tract obstruction. For the neonates suffering from severe upper respiratory obstruction, finding out the cause and prompt treatment are essential for prognosis and reducing mortality.

Airway Obstruction ; etiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; etiology ; Anesthetics ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Polyps ; complications ; Tonsillar Neoplasms ; complications ; Young Adult

Airway Obstruction ; etiology ; Child ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mucus

Airway Obstruction ; complications ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Asphyxia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Fibroma ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; Rare Diseases

Airway Obstruction ; complications ; surgery ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; etiology ; therapy ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; etiology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo review the clinical features and therapeutic experience in children with plastic bronchitis.

METHODSFourteen children with plastic bronchitis were reviewed retrospectively, 12 of which were under two years old. The clinical features are characterized by sudden onset, episodes of profound hypoxia and respiratory tract obstruction. SaO2 was between 0.70 and 0.80 even with mask oxygen inhalation. Eight cases were pyretic, 4 cases expectorated jel-like bronchial casts. The chest X-ray picture showed patchy consolidation or atelectasis unilaterally (10 cases) or bilaterally (2 cases). Pulmonary marking thickening and patchy shadow were observed in 2 cases. Twelve cases underwent rigid bronchoscopy and the bronchial casts were removed. Two cases underwent endotracheal intubation.

RESULTSEight cases of 12 children received therapeutic bronchoscopy were cured. Other 4 cases had second therapeutic bronchoscopy and bronchial casts were removed again in 3 cases, one died from pulmonary hemorrhage. Two cases who underwent endotracheal intubation died from the multiple organ failure (MOF). Pathologic results showed:the bronchial casts were composed mainly of mucus and fibrin, inflammatory cell infiltrate were observed in 6 cases (Type 1, inflammatory), no cellular infiltrate occurred in 8 cases (Type 2, acellular).

CONCLUSIONSPlastic bronchitis is a severe and dangerous disease. The branching plastic casts may obstruct part or the entire tracheobronchial, causing respiratory failure. Bronchoscopy and pathologic examination are essential for it's diagnosis and treatment.

Airway Obstruction ; Bronchitis ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of flexible bronchoscopy in congenital great vessel diseases complicated with airway compression.

METHODThe medical records of patients with great vessels abnormalities who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from October 2005 to June 2009 were retrospectively reviewed; 34 cases were diagnosed as airway compression by flexible bronchoscopy, 10 cases as vascular ring, 24 cases as aortal arch obstruction. The age of the patients was 6 d - 11 m, body weight 2.2 - 8.7 kg [(4.6 +/- 1.4) kg]. Recorded airway abnormalities detected by bronchoscopy and CT, cardiac vascular defects and airway compression were consistent with the findings on operation. The relation between the airway compression and cardiac vascular abnormalities, treatment of the airway compression and outcome were analysed.

RESULTBronchoscopic assessment was successfully performed in NICU or operating room for all the patients. (1) Initial presentation of the 34 cases were tachypnea, stridor, refractory lung infection and prolonged mechanical ventilation. (2) Extrinsic compression was found in all the 10 cases with vascular ring by bronchoscopy initially which indicated vascular ring, airway compression was mainly of lower part of trachea. Diagnosis of 9 cases was consistent with CT diagnosis and in 1 case the diagnosis was confirmed by surgery; among these cases, 7 had congenital tracheal stenosis. (3) In the 24 cases with aortic obstructive lesion, 5 were detected to have tracheal stenosis by CT before correction of vascular abnormality, among whom one case was indicated to have tracheal stenosis by bronchoscopy, the other 19 cases were found with airway compression by bronchoscopy during or after vascular correction. Among the 24 cases, 21 had left main bronchial stenosis, 2 had congenital tracheal stenosis. Airway compression diagnosed by bronchoscopy agreed with the findings of CT. Two cases developed transient decrease of oxygen saturation, 5 cases developed transient tachycardia.

CONCLUSIONFlexible bronchoscopy plays an important role in assessment of the airway compression complicated with great vessel abnormalities. Bronchoscopy is an accurate, convenient, safe and rapid way for airway assessment, but further examination of the peripheral structure and vascular malformation need combined examination with CT.

Airway Obstruction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Bronchoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Malformations ; complications ; diagnosis

Obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane is a rare, but potentially fatal complication associated with endotracheal intubation. It has been known that the formation of tracheal pseudomembrane is related with intracuff pressure during endotracheal intubation or infectious cause. But in the patient described in this case, pseudomembrane formation in the trachea was associated with subglottic epithelial trauma or caustic injuries to the trachea caused by aspirated gastric contents during intubation rather than tracheal ischemia due to high cuff pressure. We report a patient with obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane after endotracheal intubation who presented with dyspnea and stridor and was treated successfully with mechanical removal using rigid bronchoscopy.
Aged ; Airway Obstruction/*etiology/surgery ; Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal/*adverse effects ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tracheal Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology/surgery