Syncope Upper airway obstruction true human_phenotype UMLS:C0740852 IUAO HP:0002781 mposed upper airways obstruction (suffocation) is a rare but important cause of life-threatening syncope in infants. The events always occur in the presence of a particular individual with others never seeing the beginning of an event. The syncope takes longer to evolve than in reflex anoxic seizures or breath holding. This is one form of fabricated or induced illness. imposed upper airways obstruction Upper airway obstruction Increased resistance to the passage of air in the upper airway.