The presentation and management of laryngeal cleft: a 10-year experience.
OBJECTIVE
To review the presentation and associated congenital abnormalities of laryngeal cleft and present guidelines for its evaluation and management.


METHODS
A 10-year retrospective study (1994-2004) with institutional review board approval.


METHODS
Two pediatric tertiary care medical centers.


METHODS
Twenty-two pediatric patients (mean age, 21 months) with laryngeal cleft.


METHODS
Surgical repair of laryngeal cleft.


METHODS
Sex, age, symptoms, other associated abnormalities, method of evaluation, type of laryngeal cleft, method of surgical repair, treatment outcome, complications, and long-term follow-up.


RESULTS
All 22 patients underwent surgical repair for laryngeal cleft. Airway endoscopy confirmed the following types of laryngeal clefts: type 1 (n = 3), type 2 (n = 10), and type 3 (n = 9). Surgical repair techniques included an open approach with or without interposition graft (n = 16) and an endoscopic approach (n = 6).


CONCLUSIONS
Early diagnosis and proper repair of laryngeal cleft are essential to prevent pulmonary damage and associated morbidity. Each patient should be assessed properly, and the surgical approach should be individualized based on the symptoms, other associated findings on airway endoscopy, and type of cleft.
Rahbar
Reza
R
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. reza.rahbar@childrens.harvard.edu
Rouillon
Isabelle
I
Roger
Gilles
G
Lin
Aaron
A
Nuss
Roger C
RC
Denoyelle
Francoise
F
McGill
Trevor J
TJ
Healy
Gerald B
GB
Garabedian
Erea-Noel
EN
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome