TY - JOUR T1 - Assessment of effect of nasal continuous positive pressure on laryngeal opening using fibre optic laryngoscopy JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed SP - F230 LP - F232 DO - 10.1136/fn.80.3.F230 VL - 80 IS - 3 AU - P Gaon AU - S Lee AU - S Hannan AU - D Ingram AU - A D Milner Y1 - 1999/05/01 UR - http://fn.bmj.com/content/80/3/F230.abstract N2 - AIM To assess the effect of nasal continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) on the dimensions of the laryngeal opening. METHODS Nine preterm infants who had previously received ventilatory support for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were studied. All were receiving nasal CPAP. The laryngeal opening was visualised using a fibre optic video camera system. The ratio of width to length of the opening was measured on and off CPAP. RESULTS In eight of the infants the width: length ratio increased on CPAP; mean change for group +24.4% (95% CI +11.9 to +37.9). CONCLUSIONS Nasal CPAP seems to dilate the larynx. This may explain the selective beneficial effects of CPAP on mixed and obstructive apnoea. ER -