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Published on: March 6, 2019

Pulmonary arterial pressure in infants with laryngomalacia

Ekrem Unal1, Bulent Oran, Tamer Baysal

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Selcuk University Meram Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey. drekremunal@yahoo.com.tr

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|September 12, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Infants with laryngomalacia may experience higher pulmonary arterial pressure, but this condition is reversible. Doppler echocardiography can monitor these pressure changes in infants with this airway obstruction.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Neonatology
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Persistent upper airway obstruction in children can lead to elevated pulmonary arterial pressure.
  • Laryngomalacia is a frequent cause of infant upper airway obstruction due to laryngeal blockage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess pulmonary arterial pressures in infants diagnosed with laryngomalacia.
  • To investigate the changes in pulmonary arterial pressure throughout infancy in affected infants.

Main Methods:

  • Doppler echocardiography was used to measure pulmonary arterial pressures.
  • Study included 15 infants with laryngomalacia and 30 healthy controls.
  • Clinical evaluations, telecardiography, and electrocardiography were also performed.

Main Results:

  • Infants with laryngomalacia exhibited significantly higher pulmonary arterial pressure compared to healthy controls.
  • Pulmonary arterial pressure in the laryngomalacia group showed a significant decrease by the end of infancy.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated pulmonary arterial pressure associated with laryngomalacia is reversible as infants develop.
  • Doppler echocardiography is a valuable tool for monitoring pulmonary arterial pressure and clinical outcomes in infants with laryngomalacia during their symptomatic period.
Abstract

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