The premature babies are more prone to develop disorderly breathing while they are sleeping and in particular obstructive sleep apnea (AOS). This is a temporary closure of the upper airways preventing breathing for a few seconds. A study, conducted by the National Children’s Health System in the United States, shows that their upper airways are narrowed compared to other babies, which may explain this increased risk. Their results appeared in the journal Clinical Imaging.
Twice narrower airways
The researchers analyzed brain MRIs 96 infants, 49 of whom were born prematurely. Babies were on average less than 2 weeks old at the time of the exam. Scientists then looked in detail at the volumes of different respiratory structures: the nasopharynx (the upper part of the pharynx), the oropharynx (behind the oral cavity), the hypopharynx (the entrance to the esophagus) and the tonsils.
They realized that the volumes of these structures were much lower in premature babies than in term newborns, regardless of the sex, ethnicity or weight of the infants. Their nasopharynx averaged 221.1 millimeters versus 495.6 mm and their oropharynx size was 179.3 mm versus 313.6 mm.
Towards a better diagnosis
Today, in order to diagnose OSA, we use the bronchoscopy. This consists of the introduction of a tube, equipped with a small camera, through the patient’s nose or mouth. However, this technique can be invasive for the baby. The research team would like MRI, used in their study, to become a new way to assess the anatomy of babies’ airways. Scientists want to continue this research by examining more infants, with the goal of determining whether this shrinkage, seen here at 2 weeks of age, also predisposes these babies to OSA later in life.
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