Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (or subglottic stenosis?).

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia has now become the most common chronic lung disease of early childhood, and is a sequel of neonatal intensive care. The condition is characterized by interstitial fibrosis, agenesis of pulmonary alveoli, and distension of the remaining lung tissue. The resultant stiffness of the lung leads to noisy, labored respiration with retraction of the soft tissues of the thorax during inspiration which may easily be mistaken for the signs of subglottic stenosis. Two cases which illustrate the problem are presented. The mechanism underlying the clinical picture is discussed.