title: Management of pediatric subglottic cysts using the Bugbee fulgurating electrode.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Subglottic cysts are an important cause of pediatric airway obstruction. We describe the typical presentation and management of subglottic cysts, with historical recurrence rates between 12.5% and 71.0%, and treatment using the Bugbee fulgurating diathermy electrode as a technique to successfully manage subglottic cysts with a low recurrence rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed on 16 consecutive patients treated for subglottic cysts at a single tertiary-care facility. The mean gestational age was 26.9 weeks, with a male to female ratio of 4.3:1. All patients had at least 1 prior intubation, with a mean of 1.8 prior intubations per patient. Biphasic stridor was the most common presenting symptom, occurring at a mean of 7.3 months after the last extubation. At the time of diagnosis, patients were found to have a mean of 1.6 cysts, and the left lateral subglottic wall was the most common location of unilateral cysts. Nine patients (56%) had an associated laryngeal pathologic condition. Symptomatic cyst recurrence occurred in only 6% of patients, and no major complications were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review presents a treatment method for subglottic cysts that is safe and effective and has a symptomatic recurrence rate lower than previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson2Department of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Tyler W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Winford
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson3ENT of Athens, Athens, Georgia.
authors.forename: Byron K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
authors.forename: J Mark
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003560:Cysts / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome