CONGENITAL ABSENCE OF THE EPIGLOTTIS AND ITS POTENTIAL ROLE IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA

A 3 month old girl with congenital absence of the epiglottis presents with inspiratory strider. Over the next 8 years frank obstructive slee p apnea (OSA) develops, confirmed by polysomnography. She has no diffi culty in swallowing or phonation as assessed clinically and with bariu m swallow. This suggests that the epiglottis may help stabilize the up per airway, and any role in swallowing or phonation may, in its absenc e, be compensated by other mechanisms.