THE PEDIATRIC AIRWAY

Widespread interest and research into the paediatric upper airway has relatively recent origins. Indeed, in a state-of-the-art paper on the development of-the respiratory system published only 15 years ago virt ually no attention was paid to this subject (Polgar and Weng, 1979). W e will initially explore the embryological origin of the structures th at form the airway, scrutinize the particularly significant anatomical features of each section in turn, develop a physiological perspective by focusing on some principles that govern airflow through this compo site tube, and finally discuss the often unique pathophysiological der angements that befall the infant and child in this vulnerable area. It is important to appreciate that the nose, pharynx, larynx and trachea comprise a bottleneck in the paediatric airway, with obstruction ther e being potentially fatal.