Aryepiglottoplasty for laryngomalacia: results and recommendations following a case series of 84.
OBJECTIVE
To examine one consultant's experience of aryepiglottoplasty at Leeds General Infirmary. To identify risk factors for post-operative complications. Comparing the outcomes of surgery with the published literature on aryepiglottoplasty.


METHODS
A retrospective case series of consecutive patients undergoing aryepiglottoplasty identified from theatre records.


METHODS
The Otolaryngology Department, Leeds General Infirmary. This is part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and is a tertiary referral centre with regional paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and specialises in managing paediatric airway pathology.


METHODS
Ninety-one consecutive cases of aryepiglottoplasties, between 1997 and 2005. The medical records for 84 cases were reviewed.


METHODS
Unplanned admissions to PICU, complication rate, length of post-operative hospital stay, and successful resolution of symptoms amongst our patient group.


RESULTS
The primary indication for surgery was found to be severe stridor. There was a low rate (3.6%) of unplanned admissions to the PICU. 7.1% of patients suffered a post-operative aspiration pneumonia. The majority (66.7%) of patients were able to return home after just one night in hospital. 11.9% of patients continued to have some stridor at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of patients undergoing aryepiglottoplasty for isolated laryngomalacia can be monitored overnight on a paediatric surgical ward and return home the following day (85%). Furthermore, they should expect improvement of their stridor with a single procedure (90%). Aryepiglottoplasty at an experienced unit is a low-risk procedure with a high success rate.
O'Donnell
S
S
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Great George St., Leeds LS1 3EX, UK.
Murphy
J
J
Bew
S
S
Knight
L C
LC
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications*; D001193:Arytenoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000601:surgery*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome