Mechanisms of the Defence of the Airway

Mechanisms of the defence of the airway was studied with 54 cases of sinobronchial syndrome (SBS) by means of trans-tracheal aspiration (TTA) and aerosol inhalation cine scintigraphy (AICS).1. TTA obtained from the lower airway of cases of SBS revealed continuous infection with organisms usually observed in the normal upper airway such as Haemophilus influenzae and others. We estimated that the clinical course of SBS took a turn of worse with continuous infection.2. Damages of mucocilliary transport in lower airways were clearly observed by AICS in cases of SBS.We strongly suggested that continuous infection due to the damage of the mucocilliary transport in the lower airway was the main factor causing symptoms observed in cases of SBS.