Airway structure, function and development in health and disease

Until they are fully mature, the airways are highly susceptible to damage. Factors that may contribute to vulnerability of immature airways and the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm neonates include decreased contractility of smooth muscles of the airway, which leads to generation of lower forces, and immaturity of airway cartilage, leading to increased compressibility of developing airways. Mechanical ventilation has little effect on adult airways, but affects the dimensions and mechanical properties of preterm and newborn airways. Techniques for clinical evaluation of airway function include: (i) measurements of airway function during tidal breathing (airway resistance and reactivity are significantly elevated in infants with BPD); (ii) forced expiratory flow measurements [small-airway obstruction in infants with BPD is indicated by markedly reduced maximal volume measurements (V-max)]; (iii) radiography procedures (plain radiographs, fluoroscopy, computed tomography and virtual bronchoscopy); and (iv) endoscopy procedures (rigid or flexible bronchoscopy, with or without measurement of oesophageal pressure). Imaging has demonstrated an excessively decreased airway cross-sectional area during exhalation in infants with BPD and acquired tracheomegaly in very preterm infants who had received mechanical ventilatory support. To further advance our understanding of how the airways develop, and to design less damaging protocols for mechanical ventilation in preterm neonates, basic laboratory studies of airway ultrastructure need to be performed and the results correlated with clinical pulmonary function studies.