title: Balloon dilatation of pediatric subglottic laryngeal stenosis during the artificial apneic pause: experience in 5 children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Balloon dilatation is a method of choice for treatment of laryngeal stenosis in children. The aim of procedure in apneic pause is to avoid new insertion of tracheostomy cannula.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors performed balloon dilatation of subglottic laryngeal strictures (SGS) in 5 children (3 girls and 2 boys) without tracheotomy. Two of them with traumatic and inflammatory SGS had a tracheal cannula removed in the past. The other 3 children with postintubation SGS had never had a tracheostomy before. The need for tracheostomy due to worsening stridor was imminent for all of them.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total of seven laryngeal dilatations by balloon esophagoplasty catheter in apneic pause was performed in the 5 children. The procedure averted the need for tracheostomy placement in 4 of them (80%). Failure of dilatation in girl with traumatic stenosis and concomitant severe obstructive lung disease led to repeated tracheostomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balloon dilatation of laryngeal stricture could be done in the absence of tracheostomy in apneic pause. Dilatation averted threatening tracheostomy in all except one case. Early complication after the procedure seems to be a negative prognostic factor for the outcome of balloon dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Methods, 2nd Medical Faculty, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lisý
authors.affiliation: Children ENT Department, 2nd Medical Faculty, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Groh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 1st Medical Faculty, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chovanec
authors.affiliation: Children ENT Department, 2nd Medical Faculty, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marková
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Methods, 2nd Medical Faculty, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Suchánek
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Methods, 2nd Medical Faculty, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polášková
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, 2nd Medical Faculty, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trávníček
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001049:Apnea / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004106:Dilatation; D004944:Esophagoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D014140:Tracheotomy