Airway mechanics in health and disease

Infants requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation develop chronic respirat ory problems. In addition to abnormalities in the lung parenchyma, airway i njury with subsequent dysfunction is a hallmark of bronchopulmonary dysplas ia, Developmental immaturity, in addition to ventilator-induced injury, pre dispose infants to significant limitations in overall pulmonary function. T his review will focus on basic physiologic mechanics and clinical assessmen t of airways to elucidate the contribution of developmental and injury indu ced changes in the functional characteristics of airways.