A 6-year-old child manifested symptoms and signs of alveolar hypoventilation and signs of cor pulmonale caused by obstruction of the upper airway. These symptoms and signs disappeared after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. The relationship of upper airway obstruction to hypoventilation and cor pulmonale is discussed in the hope of renewing interest in this problem and alerting physicians to think of this possiblity early in the evaluation of such patients.

Adenoidectomy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nontraumatic, nonneoplastic subglottic stenosis.

During a 20-year period, 12 patients with nontraumatic, nonneoplastic subglottic stenosis were seen at the Mayo Clinic. The etiologic factors were relapsing polychondritis, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, and Wegener's granulomatosis. Because of the diverse initial presentation of the disease, the clinician should consider that the stenosis is a manifestation of a systemic disorder and carry out an otolaryngologic and physical examination with the appropriate roentgenograms and blood and urine tests. Treatment, if a systemic disease is proved, consists of appropriate medication. Surgery may be necessary, depending on the nature of the lesion. Small strictures may not need to be treated.

Adolescent↗