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Functional upper airway obstruction. Psychogenic pharyngeal constriction.
A Nagai1, E Yamaguchi, K Sakamoto
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ohara Medical Center, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
Chest
|May 1, 1992
Summary
Psychogenic pharyngeal constriction can cause acute upper airway obstruction and stridor in adolescents, even with asthma. Sedation and psychotherapy effectively resolved symptoms, suggesting a psychological origin for the respiratory distress.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Background:
- Asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition in children.
- Acute upper airway obstruction presents with stridor and respiratory distress.
Observation:
- A 15-year-old boy with asthma experienced acute inspiratory airway obstruction and stridor.
- Spirometry confirmed extrathoracic airway obstruction.
- Bronchofiberoptic examination revealed hypopharyngeal narrowing.
Findings:
- Sedative administration led to sudden resolution of stridor.
- Psychotherapy reduced the frequency of subsequent stridor attacks.
- Psychogenic pharyngeal constriction is proposed as the cause of airway obstruction.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for psychosomatic factors to manifest as severe respiratory symptoms.
- It underscores the importance of considering psychogenic causes in unexplained airway obstruction.
- Integrated treatment approaches combining medical and psychological interventions may be beneficial.