Larynx and neonatal apneas.

This paper summarizes current knowledge on laryngeal dynamics during neonatal apneas, including mechanisms potentially involved in mixed/obstructive apneas at the laryngeal level, and recent personal data on active glottic closure throughout spontaneous central apneas (either isolated or in periodic breathing) observed in preterm lambs. It is suggested that this is reminiscent of the basic respiratory pattern in vertebrates alternating periods of lung ventilation with periods of breath-holding with the exchanger full of gas. Moreover, this unique ovine model of spontaneous neonatal apneas and periodic breathing offers new opportunity for studying candidate treatments of neonatal apneas.