Recurrent apparent life-threatening event relieved by glossopexy

An infant with repaired esophageal atresia presented with several apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs). He had upper airway instability, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and tracheomalacia. Oxygen breathing test results showed a modest increase in arterial Po2 consistent with the development of an intrapulmonary shunt from absorption collapse of some hypoventilated areas of the lung. Glossopexy was followed by improvement in upper airway stability, normal oxygen test, and disappearance of ALTE. These findings support the concept that upper airway instability, obstructive apnea, lower airway instability, absorption collapse, massive intrapulmonary shunt, and ALTE are the result of a cascade reaction. The authors conclude that infants with ALTE associated with obstructive apnea and O2 shunting require glossopexy to reduce the risk of sudden death.