Immediate mandibular distraction in mandibular hypoplasia and upper airway obstruction.

Distraction osteogenesis of the mandible has become an alternative to tracheostomy in infants and children who present with upper airway obstruction due to micrognathia. To avoid prolonged intubation during distraction, we have implemented a protocol of immediate distraction at the time of distractor placement, which results in acute airway improvement. Over 2 years, 22 patients with micrognathia and severe airway obstruction have undergone mandibular distractor placement. Indications for surgery were apnea and desaturations with feeding. Resorbable distraction devices were placed bilaterally and activated to 5 to 8 mm. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 was placed in the gap. Distraction was implemented at postoperative day 2 at 2 mm/d. Forty-four distraction devices were placed in 22 patients (68% male, 32% female) with a mean age of 24.1 months (range, 3 days to 5.5 years). The average distance of distraction performed in the operating room was 5 mm. The average total distraction was 24 mm performed over 12 days. Overall, 89% of patients were extubated after distractor placement in the operating room. Two patients with difficult intubations were extubated 7 days later in the operating room with otolaryngology. Of the 4 tracheostomy patients, 1 patient was decannulated, whereas 3 patients are pending postoperative sleep studies. One patient had a minor wound complication. Tracheostomy and prolonged intubation in patients with mandibular hypoplasia have significant morbidity and mortality. We have implemented a successful protocol of immediate distraction in the operating room with placement of bone morphogenetic protein. Immediate distraction appears to be an effective method of avoiding postoperative intubation and tracheostomy.

Diagnosis and management of type I posterior laryngeal clefts.

OBJECTIVES: We review the diagnosis and management of type I posterior laryngeal clefts (PLCs). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study at a tertiary-care children's hospital of children who were diagnosed with a PLC between January 2003 and August 2008. We studied concurrent airway anomalies, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, age at the time of aspiration resolution, and rate of aspiration resolution. RESULTS: Sixty-seven children with PLCs were identified (41 boys and 26 girls). Fifty-nine had type I clefts, 6 had type II, and 2 had type III. Of the 59 type I cases, 15 (25.4%) were surgically repaired by endoscopy. Eleven of these 15 children (73.3%) have had symptomatic improvement since the surgery, and 7 of those 11 (63.6%) are tolerating thin liquids by mouth. Two of the 15 (13.3%) displayed no improvement with surgery, and 2 of the 15 (13.3%) were lost to follow-up. Forty-four of the 59 type I clefts (74.6%) were managed nonsurgically. Twenty of these 44 children (45.5%) did not present with aspiration. Twenty-four of the 44 (54.5%) presented with aspiration, and 16 of the 24 (66.7%) are now tolerating thin liquids by mouth. Seven of these 24 patients (29.2%) are still aspirating, and 1 has died. The average time to resolution of aspiration was 7.8 months for the surgical group and 13.6 months for the nonsurgical group (p = 0.19). In the surgical group, the average age at resolution of aspiration for patients who received their diagnosis at 0 to 6 months of age was 21.5 months; that for those with a diagnosis at 6 to 12 months was 27.3 months; and that for those with a diagnosis at older than 12 months was 27.3 months (p = 0.31). In the nonsurgical group, the average age at resolution of aspiration for patients who received their diagnosis at 0 to 12 months of age was 15.8 months; that for those with a diagnosis at 12 to 24 months was 27.3 months; and that for those with a diagnosis at older than 24 months was 77.3 months (p = 0.0015). CONCLUSIONS: We found that (1) the reported incidence of type I PLCs is increasing; (2) type I PLCs can often present without clinical aspiration; (3) aspiration caused by type I PLCs can be managed medically or surgically; and (4) operative intervention is advantageous for patients who have severe symptoms or who have persistent aspiration after 2 years of age.

Endoscopic management of subglottic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: Determine the effectiveness of endoscopic surgical treatment of subglottic stenosis (SGS) in children as a primary surgical modality to prevent laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) and as treatment for restenosis following primary LTR to prevent revision LTR. PATIENTS: Children undergoing various endoscopic surgical treatments from 1989 to 2006 for SGS. RESULTS: The number of children and success rates per grade of SGS and the number of procedures required to produce a successful result in 29 children initially managed endoscopically included grade I, three of three (100%), 1.3 procedures; grade II, eight of nine (88%), 2.6 procedures; and grade III, 13 of 17 (76%), 3.5 procedures. Of 102 patients undergoing open LTR, 56 of 102 required endoscopic interventions and 41 of 56 (73%) children were treated successfully. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic intervention can be used to manage SGS either as a primary intervention or to treat reobstruction and restenosis following an open reconstructive procedure. Success rates decline as the severity of stenosis increases.

The double transposition flap for closure of the extremely wide hard palate cleft.

Repair of the extremely wide hard palate cleft can be done effectively with a double transposition flap. All cases referred for closure of cleft palates from 1997 to 2005 were considered for this study. Of these, 6 were classified as extremely wide cleft palates thought not to be treatable with standard closure techniques. A double transposition flap was used in each case. All patients tolerated the procedure well; no flap failure or dehiscence was noted; and none has required secondary repair. All patients tolerated an appropriate diet following flap repair. Two patients who were gastrostomy tube dependent preoperatively no longer required gastrosotomy tubes postoperatively.