title: Early surgical intervention in type I laryngeal cleft.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diagnosis and treatment of type 1 laryngeal clefts remains a challenge. The purpose of this study is to determine if early surgical intervention in type I laryngeal clefts improves outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case series was conducted at an academic tertiary care children's hospital. 18 children undergoing early (≤3 months from diagnosis) surgical intervention for type I laryngeal cleft repair between August of 2012 and December 2014. Data was compiled through a manual chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  18 children who underwent early surgical intervention for type I laryngeal cleft repair were identified for review. 14 (78%) were male and 4 (22%) were female and the average age at time of repair was 1.6 years. Most frequent presenting symptoms included dysphagia (61%) and recurrent respiratory issues (22%). Successful swallowing outcomes, defined as subjective improvement (i.e. absence of previous symptoms) per parental report in follow-up visits, +/- normal post-operative MBS (modified barium swallow) findings, was seen in 11 patients (61%). 9 patients required hospitalization for respiratory issues prior to surgical repair. Post-operatively, 4 patients still incurred an admission for respiratory reasons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our series shows a success rate of 61% with early surgical intervention (≤3 months from diagnosis). A decrease in post-operative hospitalizations is appreciated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Kristine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: Pediatric ENT Associates, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL; Children's of Alabama Aerodigestive Program, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Pediatric ENT Associates, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL; Children's of Alabama Aerodigestive Program, USA. Electronic address: brian.kulbersh@childrensal.org.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kulbersh
mesh_terms: D001466:Barium Sulfate; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007830:Larynx / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate
keywords: Early surgical intervention; Endoscopic repair; Laryngeal cleft; Type I laryngeal cleft