Pediatric Airway - Physiology
- Oxygen consumption is 2-3 times higher in children (depending on age) than in adults
- Functional residual capacity (the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal exhalation), which acts as an oxygen reservoir, is relatively smaller in children than in adults
- Compliant chest wall. Prone to atelectasis and desaturation when muscle tone abolished, such as after the administration of neuromuscular blocking agents
In the presence of airway obstruction or apnea, children become hypoxemic more rapidly than adults. This illustrates the importance of prompt recognition and correction.