title: Laryngotracheal reconstruction in congenital laryngeal webs and atresias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the role of open laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) in congenital laryngeal webs and atresias.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was undertaken in a specialist otorhinolaryngology unit in an academic tertiary referral paediatric hospital. Twenty-one patients with congenital laryngeal subglottic stenosis (SGS) underwent LTR between 1993 and 2003. Two groups were identified; one group had SGS alone (n = 6) and the other group had SGS associated with a laryngeal web (n = 15). Information recorded included presenting features, classification of lesion, surgery performed, and whether decannulation was achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All grades of stenosis (Myer-Cotton classification) and webs of type 2, 3, and 4 (Cohen's classification) were recorded. Fifteen patients had a staged reconstruction and 6 patients had a single-stage LTR. Complications included 2 revision procedures, 3 tracheocutaneous fistulas, and 1 death (cause unrelated). All appropriate patients were successfully decannulated at between 3 and 18 months post-LTR (median, 5 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This series illustrates the effective role of open LTR in both congenital SGS alone and that in association with glottic webbing.
authors.affiliation: Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK. michelle.wyatt@btopenworld.com
authors.forename: Michelle Elizabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: Benjamin Ernest John
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hartley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery*; D007830:Larynx / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome