Evaluation of swallowing in children with higher grades glottic web.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the swallowing function in children with higher grades of glottic web and to detect the impact of surgical division of the glottic web on the swallowing parameters. We also performed a voice analysis as a secondary objective in this study. METHODS: This prospective case series study included 12 children with higher grades of the glottic web; grades 3 and 4. Evaluation of the swallowing function was done by clinical swallowing evaluation including symptoms and signs of swallowing dysfunction during feeding, such as vomiting, coughing, choking, or cyanosis, and bedside swallowing assessment using the 3-oz water swallow test. Instrumental evaluation of swallowing function was performed using flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). The evaluation was performed both preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: The number of children suffering from swallowing difficulties significantly increased during the postoperative evaluation where 6 (50%) children demonstrated choking during feeding after the surgical division of the web in comparison to only 3 (25%) preoperatively. Also, coughing and choking during the 3-oz water swallow test significantly increased following the division of the web with P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Swallowing assessment is mandatory as children with higher grades of the glottic web, requiring reconstructive surgeries, are at risk of swallowing deficit which can be aggravated postoperatively. With improvement in the airway and surgery-specific outcomes, swallowing function is an important secondary outcome that has a significant impact on the lives of these kids and their families.

Coblation supraglottoplasty: a ten-year experience in a tertiary referral hospital.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to review the outcomes of coblation supraglottoplasty performed for children with different types of laryngomalacia, and we discuss the factors affecting these outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of laryngomalacia patients admitted to the Otorhinolaryngology Department, Mansoura University, from 2010 to 2020. We examined the patient's demography, symptoms, comorbidities, type of laryngomalacia, oxygen saturation, and final outcomes. RESULTS: Our study included 235 patients; 122 patients responded to medical therapy, while 113 underwent surgical management. There is a significant relation between the types and therapy they underwent (p ≤ 0.001). Larger percentage within type I underwent medical therapy. There is a statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding age at surgery. On pairwise comparison, patients with type II had the lowest age significantly at the surgery when compared with each other individual group (p ≤ 0.001). On multivariate regression analysis, the presence of comorbid congenital heart disease, neurological comorbidities significantly increased the risk of failure of surgical intervention by 17.32 and 5.803 folds, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Coblation supraglottoplasty is effective and safe to treat severe laryngomalacia. Different morphological types of laryngomalacia require slight surgical variations of coblation supraglottoplasty. The presence of comorbid congenital heart disease, neurological comorbidities significantly increased the risk of failure of surgical intervention.

Repair of posterior laryngeal cleft: a 10-year experience in a tertiary referral hospital.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to present experience with surgical treatment of laryngeal cleft cases through both open and endoscopic approaches. METHOD: A retrospective evaluation of all patients diagnosed as having a laryngeal cleft in a tertiary hospital over 10 years was performed. Pre-operative data, conservative and surgical management of cases, and outcomes were collected, tabulated and analysed. RESULTS: This study included 43 patients aged from 2 to 44 months with a median of 9.19 months. Concerning management technique, 12 patients had conservative treatment and the remaining 31 underwent a surgical procedure (of them, 20 patients underwent endoscopic intervention and 11 had the open surgical technique). In the open group, we used either tibial periosteum (six cases) or harvested costal cartilage (five cases). CONCLUSION: Surgical management in the form of endoscopic Coblation-assisted or an open approach is indicated in severe cases or mild cases not responding to conservative management.

One and half coblation supraglottoplasty: A novel technique for management of type II laryngomalacia.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic supraglottoplasty is the mainstay surgical procedure in treatment of laryngomalacia. Various instruments have been used with coblation recently gaining widespread attention. Regarding the technique used, cutting the aryepiglottic folds is associated with rapid improvement but carries risk of restenosis while outer scar contracture method has delayed but established result. Therefore, this study was conducted to introduce a modified coblation supraglottoplasty technique gathering both benefits and evaluate its results and effectiveness. METHODS: Retrospective study included patients diagnosed with type II laryngomalacia was conducted. Supraglottoplasty was done by "one and half coblation supraglottoplasty" technique which involves cutting of one aryepiglottic fold while the other one is laterally coagulated. Patients' basic and clinical data were assessed. Outcome measures included assessment of inspiratory stridor, failure to thrive, choking, cyanosis, lowest oxygen saturation levels and weight gain. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included in this study with a mean age of 3.71 ± 1.1 months. Significant statistical improvement was reached regarding stridor, failure to thrive and cyanosis. Also, minimal oxygen saturation and weight gain were significantly improved. None of the cases needed tracheostomy and no major postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSION: We conclude that "one and half coblation supraglottoplasty" is an effective and safe treatment for type II laryngomalacia with satisfactory outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Coagulation of the lateral surface of aryepiglottic folds as an alternative to aryepiglottic fold release in management of type 2 laryngomalacia.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic supraglottoplasty is the procedure of choice in treatment of laryngomalacia with CO2 laser and cold steel being the most common instruments used with excellent results. However, bleeding, supraglottic stenosis and aspiration may occur leading to serious complications. Using coblation in management of laryngomalacia was found to be beneficial. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the outcome of supraglottoplasty done by coagulation using coblation of the lateral surface of aryepiglottic folds as an alternative technique to aryepiglottic fold release in management of type 2 laryngomalacia. METHODS: Retrospective study was conducted at Mansoura University Hospitals; Egypt from November 2017 to March 2018 included patients diagnosed with severe type 2 laryngomalacia. Supraglottoplasty was done by using coblator applied to the lateral surface of aryepiglottic folds allowing for lateral scarring thus widening the airway, preventing supraglottic collapse and avoiding re-stenosis. Outcome measures included assessment of presence or absence of the following symptoms preoperatively and postoperatively: inspiratory stridor, failure to thrive, choking and cyanosis. Preoperative and postoperative lowest oxygen saturation levels, weight-by-age percentile, and need for tracheostomy were assessed. RESULTS: Nine patients were included in this study with a mean age of 3.78 ± 1.20 months (range 2-6 months). Overall success rate was 89%. The most significantly improved symptom was stridor (p-value 0.008). Significant improvement in lowest oxygen saturation levels (from 89.11 ± 3.06% pre-operatively to 96.44 ± 3.50% post-operatively) and weight gain (from 4288.9 ±â€¯643.1 gm. preoperatively to 5505.55 ± 1017.4 gm. 1 month postoperatively) was achieved. No detected re-stenosis on follow up and none of our cases needed tracheostomy. CONCLUSION: Supraglottoplasty by coagulation of the lateral surface of aryepiglottic folds using coblation is an effective and safe technique and can improve airway symptoms and weight gain in patients with type 2 laryngomalacia.