Surgical Conditions Masquarading as Respiratory Distress

Abstract

Newborn infants are nose breathers, particularly when asleep. Any obstruction to the nasal passage leads to compulsive oral breathing. The features of airway obstruction are stridor, respiratory distress, apnea, cyanosis, tachypnoea, suprasternal, intercostal, and costal margin retractions. There are various congenital, inflammatory, traumatic and mass lesions that should be considered in the evaluation of respiratory distress in the newborn infant. Endoscopic examination of the airway has now become a virtual possibility in all age group patients which has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of airway obstruction. The number of patients with long term airway problems has increased with the increasing number of survival of ventilated and preterm neonates.