UPPER AIRWAY RADIOGRAPHS IN INFANTS WITH UPPER AIRWAY INSUFFICIENCY

Upper airway measurements in nine infants considered to be at risk of upper airway insufficiency, six of whom presented after an apnoeic epi sode, were compared with measurements taken in two age groups of healt hy infants. Paired, inspiratory and expiratory, lateral upper airway r adiographs were obtained while the infants were awake and breathing qu ietly. The radiographs of all nine infants demonstrated narrowing in t he oropharyngeal portion of the airway during inspiration and in six i nfants there was ballooning of the upper airway during expiration. Sev en of the nine infants subsequently experienced recurrent apnoeic epis odes which required vigorous stimulation to restore breathing. Experie nce suggests that respiratory phase timed radiographs are a useful adj unct to the evaluation of infants who are suspected of having upper ai rway dysfunction. They provide information regarding both the dimensio ns and compliance of the upper airway as well as the site of any restr iction.