Laser treatment of hemangiomas of the larynx and trachea.
OBJECTIVE
Hemangiomas have a typical clinical course and may lead to life-threatening obstruction if the central respiratory tract is involved.


METHODS
This was observed in 32 children over a period of 20 years. The radiation parameters and application procedure of Neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet-laser (Nd:YAG-laser) therapy were adjusted for the degree of obstruction and the type of disease.


RESULTS
The success rate was 93.8%, of which a maximum of one application was sufficient in 24 children (75.0%). Subglottic cicatricial stenosis was considered a laser-related complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Nd:YAG-laser treatment is a safe and effective therapeutic measure for eliminating respiratory tract obstruction caused by hemangiomas.
Cholewa
D
D
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Benjamin Franklin Hospital, Free University of Berlin, Germany. cholewa@medizin.fu-berlin.de
Waldschmidt
J
J
D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018324:Hemangioma, Capillary / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome