title: Safe balloon sizing for endoscopic dilatation of subglottic stenosis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our experience and provide guidelines for maximum safe balloon sizes according to age in children undergoing balloon dilatation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted of children undergoing balloon dilatation for subglottic stenosis in a paediatric tertiary unit between May 2006 and February 2016.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 166 patients underwent balloon dilatation. Mean ( ± standard deviation) patient age was 4.5 ± 3.99 years. The median balloon size was 8 mm, the median balloon inflation pressure was 10 atm, and the mean balloon inflation time was 65.1 ± 18.6 seconds. No significant unexpected events occurred. The Pearson correlation co-efficient for the relationship between patient age and balloon size was 0.85 (p = 0.001), suggesting a strongly positive correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that balloon dilatation is a safe procedure for airway stenosis. The results suggest using a balloon diameter that is equal to the outer diameter of the age-appropriate endotracheal tube +1 mm for the larynx and subglottis and +2 mm for the trachea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology,Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children,London,UK.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology,Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children,London,UK.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology,Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children,London,UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology,Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children,London,UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology,Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children,London,UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hartley
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004106:Dilatation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Acquired Subglottic Stenosis; Airway Management; Congenital Subglottic Stenosis; Dilatation; Tracheal Stenosis