Endoscopic surgical management of inspiratory stridor in newborns and infants

ObjectiveCompare the incidence of endoscopic surgical treatment of patients with laryngomalacia to other aerodigestive pathology who may present with similar symptoms.MethodsConsecutive case series with chart review of endoscopic surgical intervention in infants, aged 12 months or less, presenting with inspiratory stridor, in the absence of syndromic condition or prior history of intubation.ResultsA total of 30 patients were identified. The average age at the time of surgical intervention was 2.7 months. Endoscopic surgical management was directed at laryngomalacia (70%), vallecular cysts (23.3%), and anterior glottic webs (6.7%). All patients had nearly immediate resolution of the stridor and feeding difficulties. None required revision surgery, modified diets, or alternative means of enteric nutrition.ConclusionsLaryngomalacia was the most commonly encountered surgical indication for stridulous newborns and infants with severe symptoms. Like most previous descriptions, patients responded well to supraglottoplasty. Vallecular cysts accounted for about one-quarter of the infants treated. Clinicians should carefully consider the presence of other airway pathology, which may mimic laryngomalacia, in non-syndromic infants without a previous history of intubation. Endoscopic surgical management may be safe and effective.