Case report
Congenital absence of the epiglottis and its potential role in obstructive sleep apnea

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-5876(94)90063-9Get rights and content

Abstract

A 3 month old girl with congenital absence of the epiglottis presents with inspiratory stridor. Over the next 8 years frank obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) develops, confirmed by polysomnography. She has no difficulty in swallowing or phonation as assessed clinically and with barium swallow. This suggests that the epiglottis may help stabilize the upper airway, and any role in swallowing or phonation may, in its absence, be compensated by other mechanisms.

References (14)

  • G.M. Ardran et al.

    The mechanism of the larynx

    Brit. J. Radiol.

    (1967)
  • I.A. Bowman

    Historical perspective

  • L.J. Brooks

    Diagnosis and pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea in children

    Ear Nose Throat J.

    (1993)
  • M.L. Delmonico et al.

    Bifid epiglottis

    Arch. Otolaryngol.

    (1972)
  • P. Holinger et al.

    Congenital webs, cysts, laryngoceles and other anomalies of the larynx

    Ann. Otolar. Rhinol. Laryngol.

    (1967)
  • A.D. Klein et al.

    Rehabilitation of partial laryngectomy patients

    Trans. Am. Acad. Ophthalmol.Otolaryngol.

    (1977)
  • C.H. Knapp et al.

    Laryngeal findings in short rib polydactyly syndromes: case report and embryological correlations

    Laryngoscope

    (1990)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (20)

  • Congenital aplasia/hypoplasia of the Epiglottis-A case report and a review of the literature

    2015, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
    Citation Excerpt :

    At the same time adult patients appear to have surprisingly few breathing or feeding issues after having their epiglottis surgically removed following partial laryngectomy [3]. Reyes et al. [4] suggest that the role of the epiglottis in swallowing or phonation may be compensated by other mechanisms in its absence. It seems likely that adults with mature swallowing reflexes compensate better than neonates.

  • A case of congenital aplasia of the epiglottis in an adult

    2014, American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
    Citation Excerpt :

    Constantinides et al. [5] described a rare case of complete median mandibular cleft and absence of the epiglottis in a 6-day-old girl. Reyes et al. [6] described a child with congenital absence of the epiglottis followed up for 8 years. Unlike previous reports, the patient had no difficulty in swallowing or phonation.

  • Hypoplastic epiglottis in a non-syndromic child: A rare anomaly with serious consequences

    2010, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
    Citation Excerpt :

    The long-term evolution of hypoplasic epiglottis patients is unclear. Reyes et al. had the longest follow-up of 8 years for a 3-month girl with epiglottic aplasia who never complained of aspiration [12]. Koempel et al. had a follow-up of 14 month on their patient who still had a gastrostomy at the age of 17 months for recurrent aspiration.

  • A rudimentary epiglottis associated with Pierre Robin sequence

    2006, International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Congenital absence of the epiglottis

    1998, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text