**5.1 Respiratory system**

Life threatening complications from involvement of the respiratory system include but not limited to apnoea, hypoxia, respiratory failure, laryngeal spasm, atelectasis, aspiration pneumonitis, etc. Prolonged ventilation may lead to ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and complications from tracheostomy e.g. tracheal stenosis. Breathing problems occur from tightening of vocal cords and muscle rigidity.
