Sleep-related laryngospasm: a video-polysomnographic recording.

We present a case of laryngospasm in a 12-year-old male who experienced sudden, nocturnal episodes of breathing difficulties and agitation. Apart from laryngospasm, the main differential diagnoses included frontal seizures, sleep-related choking syndrome, sleep asthma, sleep apnoea and REM sleep behaviour disorder. The video and the EEG recordings supported the diagnosis of laryngospasm. The pH-metry confirmed the existence of reflux. Its treatment successfully controlled the episodes. This case illustrates, with a typical video recording, this infrequent type of paroxysmal event with an important differential diagnosis.[Published with video sequences].

[1]  H. Cohen,et al.  Nocturnal Acute Laryngospasm in Children: A Possible Epileptic Phenomenon , 2000, Journal of child neurology.

[2]  M. Thorpy,et al.  Sleep-related laryngospasm. , 1995, Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria.

[3]  C. Dupont,et al.  [Relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and severe malaise in infants]. , 1992, Presse medicale.

[4]  A. H. Campbell,et al.  Brief upper airway (laryngeal) dysfunction. , 1990, Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine.

[5]  J. Šnajdauf,et al.  Gastroesophageal reflux in childhood. , 1985, Progress in pediatric surgery.

[6]  R. Weitz,et al.  Laryngospasm as a single manifestation of epilepsy , 1983, Archives of disease in childhood.