title: Current trends of balloon laryngoplasty in Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the current trend in balloon laryngoplasty usage and experience by practicing otolaryngologists in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous 11 question online and paper survey of otolaryngologists on their current balloon laryngoplasty practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current practices and experience in balloon laryngoplasty were queried with multiple choice and open-ended questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laser use is the most commonly utilized instrument to treat airway stenosis in Thailand. 86% of respondents do not have experience with balloon dilatation; yet, almost half (47.6%) report they perform a minimum of five airway surgeries per year. Most respondents had been in practice for less than 6 years (41%) and reported that they did not have exposure to balloon use during residency training. The largest barrier reported for the use of balloon instrumentation in the airway is inexperience (44.4%) followed by cost (38.3%), yet most feel that treatment in airway stenosis could benefit by usage of balloons (95.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most otolaryngologists in Thailand do not have experience with the use of balloon dilatation and lack of exposure remains the largest barrier to its use. Otolaryngologists in Thailand feel that increased usage of balloons in the airway could improve airway stenosis treatment in the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Phramongkutklao Hospital College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Greetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moungthong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sacarin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bunbanjerdsuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Rangsit, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University Hospital, Rangsit Campus, Km. 41, on Paholyothin Highway, Klong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thanakrit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sathavornmanee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University Hospital, Rangsit Campus, Km. 41, on Paholyothin Highway, Klong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand. dsetabutr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dhave
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0605-4128
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Setabutr
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D006801:Humans; D058753:Laryngoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D000072220:Otolaryngologists; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand
keywords: Balloon laryngoplasty; Endoscopic airway surgery; Pediatric otolaryngology