Upper airway size while sucking on a pacifier in an infant with micrognathia.
In an infant with micrognathia, who was being evaluated after an apparent life-threatening event, respiration timed lateral radiographs showed an increase in the width of the middle airway space during inspiration from 2 mm without the pacifier to 9 mm while sucking on a pacifier. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that the well-documented association between the pacifier use and reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome may be at least in part related to changes in airway size.
Tonkin
Shirley L
SL
Vogel
Sally A
SA
Gunn
Alistair J
AJ
D003490:Cyanosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008844:Micrognathism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009520:New Zealand; D041361:Pacifiers; D011859:Radiography; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000517:prevention & control*