Pharyngeal airway obstruction in preterm infants during mixed and obstructive apnea.

The site of upper airway obstruction during mixed and obstructive apnea was investigated in nine preterm infants with clinical apnea. The level of obstruction was determined using a saline-filled pharyngeal catheter that detects respiratory pressure changes. High pharyngeal obstruction was found in 87 of 94 spells. These data suggest that the mechanism of upper airway obstruction in infants with apnea may be similar to that seen in older children and adults with obstructive sleep apnea.