Surgical management for severe congenital laryngomalacia: 16 consecutive cases / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#Laryngomalacia is the most common cause for stridor in neonate and infant. Our study aims at assessing the outcome of surgical management in patients diagnosed by fibrolaryngoscope as congenital Laryngomalacia.@*METHOD@#Retrospective study of 16 patients undergoing surgery for severe laryngomalacia. The patients' symptoms, associated medical conditions and surgical management were recorded.@*RESULT@#Stridor and feeding difficulty were observed in 16 patients on admission, while dyspnea was found in 11 patients. Medical co-morbidities exist in 14 cases. The mean age of surgery was 23 weeks, 15 patients had follow-up records for 24 months. Fourteen cases underwent supraglortoplasty. Tracheotomy was performed on the other 2 cases complicated with tracheomalacia. Nine cases showed full recovery of stridor 48 hours post-supraglottoplasty, and 7 were free of feeding difficulties. In the 6 months follow-up, complete or partial relief was achieved in all main symptoms and signs.@*CONCLUSION@#Supraglottoplasty is effective in relieving stridor and feeding difficulty as well as respiratory insufficiency, which makes it a first line option for managing severe laryngomalacia.