Airway and Aerodigestive Tract
“Pediatric airway” is a general term that encompasses a significant amount of territory and pathology. We have organized the pediatric airway by anatomic subsite—supraglottis, glottis, subglottis, trachea, hypopharynx, and pathologies that may affect multiple airway and aerodigestive sites. The upper aerodigestive tract and airway have three main functions: respiration, protection from aspiration, and vocalization. The neonatal, infant, and pediatric upper aerodigestive anatomy undergoes a significant maturation process prior to achieving normal adult structure. As such, pathology affecting pediatric patients will present and appear significantly different from that in adults. With the advent and improvement of modern endoscopic techniques, we now have the ability to routinely photodocument and communicate our findings with patients.
