Subglottic stenosis in children: a conservative approach.
Subglottic stenosis may be either congenital or acquired and is one of the commonest causes of acute and chronic airways obstruction in neonates and infants. Most acquired stenoses result from perinatal intubation. The management of these lesions remains controversial, particularly regarding the timing of surgical intervention. At Alder Hey Children's Hospital a series of 33 patients with subglottic stenosis have been reviewed. A conservative approach, employing long-term tracheotomy as the mainstay of treatment, has achieved a success rate of 72.7%, and only 3 patients have so far needed corrective surgery (9%), of which 1 has been decannulated to date. One patient (3%) died of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We believe that, where close follow-up is possible, a conservative approach is the method of choice.
Bowdler
D A
DA
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Royal Liverpool Hospital.
Rogers
J H
JH
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy; D014140:Tracheotomy