Endoscopic airway management in children.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the current status of endoscopic airway surgery in children.


RESULTS
More refined endoscopic instruments have been introduced, including balloon dilators, powered debriders, lasers with more exact modes of delivery, and innovative suspension laryngoscopes. The use of balloon dilatation for primary management of acquired subglottic stenosis is promising. Microdebriders are now considered a viable option to the CO2 laser for the management of a number of airway diseases. Knowledge regarding supraglottoplasty continues to evolve. Endoscopic vocal cord lateralization is being successfully used at some centers for the management of bilateral vocal cord paralysis. The da Vinci Surgical Robot (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, California, USA) has been introduced to facilitate endoscopic laryngeal cleft repair.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic airway surgery is presently regaining its early (1960s) popularity. This trend can be attributed to the availability of new and more sophisticated endoscopic instrumentation, the adjunctive use of new pharmaceuticals, and the realization that open and endoscopic techniques can often be used in a complementary fashion.
Rutter
Michael J
MJ
Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Aerodigestive and Sleep Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA. Mike.Rutter@cchmc.org
Cohen
Aliza P
AP
de Alarcon
Alessandro
A
D002648:Child; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012371:Robotics