title: Hypoplastic epiglottis in a non-syndromic child: a rare anomaly with serious consequences.
abstract: Hypoplasia of the epiglottis is a rarely reported anomaly. These patients may have complex malformations or are totally asymptomatic. We herewith present the case of a 26-month-old infant who was repeatedly treated for severe aspiration pneumonias that didn't resolve with gastrostomy. The role of epiglottis in protecting the airway is an unsolved question. The long-term evolution of hypoplasic epiglottis cases is also not known. The presentation and the evolution in cases of epiglottic anomalies vary a lot to deduce a trend. Close specialized follow-up is needed to answer these questions and to optimize these patients' prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon. habib.rizk@usj.edu.lb
authors.forename: Habib G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rohayem
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rassi
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D035583:Rare Diseases; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome