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Upper airways and neonatal respiration.
Jean-Paul Praud1, Philippe Reix
1Neonatal Respiratory Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Que., Canada J1H 5N4. Jean-Paul.Praud@USherbrooke.ca
Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology
|June 14, 2005
Summary
Upper airway closure during central apneas helps maintain lung volume and reduce oxygen desaturation in newborns. Laryngeal reflexes are vital for protecting against aspiration but can cause issues in preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Respiratory control
- Upper airway function
Background:
- The upper airway plays a critical role in breathing from fetal development through infancy.
- Understanding laryngeal function is key to neonatal respiratory health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on upper airway and laryngeal function in newborns, particularly in lambs.
- To explore the implications of laryngeal reflexes in neonatal respiratory events.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research on newborn laryngeal function in lambs.
- Analysis of data on upper airway closure during central apneas.
- Examination of laryngeal chemoreflexes and non-nutritive swallowing.
Main Results:
- Active laryngeal closure during central apneas maintains lung volume, reducing post-apneic desaturation.
- Laryngeal chemoreflexes protect healthy newborns from aspiration but can cause apnea/bradycardia in preterm infants.
- Swallowing patterns during sleep apnea in newborns require further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Upper airway reflexes are crucial for neonatal respiratory regulation and protection.
- Laryngeal function's role in neonatal apneas and apparent life-threatening events/sudden infant death syndrome warrants further study.
- Future research should investigate clinical factors like smoke exposure and infection on laryngeal reflexes.