OBJECTIVE: Laryngomalacia is the most common cause for stridor in neonate and infant. Our study aims at assessing the outcome of surgical management in patients diagnosed by fibrolaryngoscope as congenital Laryngomalacia. METHOD: Retrospective study of 16 patients undergoing surgery for severe laryngomalacia. The patients' symptoms, associated medical conditions and surgical management were recorded. RESULT: Stridor and feeding difficulty were observed in 16 patients on admission, while dyspnea was found in 11 patients. Medical co-morbidities exist in 14 cases. The mean age of surgery was 23 weeks, 15 patients had follow-up records for 24 months. Fourteen cases underwent supraglortoplasty. Tracheotomy was performed on the other 2 cases complicated with tracheomalacia. Nine cases showed full recovery of stridor 48 hours post-supraglottoplasty, and 7 were free of feeding difficulties. In the 6 months follow-up, complete or partial relief was achieved in all main symptoms and signs. CONCLUSION Supraglottoplasty is effective in relieving stridor and feeding difficulty as well as respiratory insufficiency, which makes it a first line option for managing severe laryngomalacia.
Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glottis ; Humans ; Infant ; Laryngomalacia ; congenital ; surgery ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Congenital laryngomalacia is the most common disease causing laryngeal stridor in infants. The pathogenesis has not yet been clearly concluded. It may be related to abnormal development of laryngeal cartilage anatomical structure, neuromuscular dysfunction, gastroesophageal and laryngeal reflux disease, etc. The typical manifestations of the disease are inspiratory laryngeal stridor and feeding difficulties, which can be divided into mild, moderate and severe according to the severity of symptoms. The diagnosis is mainly based on clinical symptoms, signs and endoscopy, among which endoscopy is an important diagnostic basis. The treatment of laryngomalacia depends on the severity of symptoms. Mild and some moderate congenital laryngomalacia children can be relieved by conservative treatment, and severe and some moderate congenital laryngomalacia children should be treated by surgery. Supraglottic plasty is the main surgical method, which can effectively improve the symptoms of laryngeal stridor, dyspnea, feeding difficulties and growth retardation in most children, and the surgical effect is good.
Infant ; Child ; Humans ; Laryngomalacia/therapy* ; Respiratory Sounds/etiology* ; Larynx/surgery* ; Laryngeal Diseases/surgery* ; Endoscopy/adverse effects* ; Laryngismus

Objective:To explore the perioperative airway management and treatment of newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia. Methods:From January to December 2022, a total of 6 newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia were included. Preoperative laryngoscopy revealed concomitant laryngomalacia. These micrognathia were diagnosed as Pierre Robin sequences. All patients had grade Ⅱ or higher symptoms of laryngeal obstruction and required oxygen therapy or non-invasive ventilatory support. All patients underwent simultaneous laryngomalacia surgery and mandibular distraction osteogenesis. The shortened aryepiglottic folds were ablated using a low-temperature plasma radiofrequency during the operation. Tracheal intubation was maintained for 3-5 days postoperatively. Polysomnography（PSG） and airway CT examination were performed before and 3 months after the surgery. Results:Among the 6 patients, 4 required oxygen therapy preoperatively and 2 required non-invasiveventilatory support. The mean age of patients was 40 days at surgery. The inferior alveolar nerve bundle was not damaged during the operation, and there were no signs of mandibular branch injury such as facial asymmetry after the surgery. Laryngomalacia presented as mixed type: type Ⅱ+ type Ⅲ. The maximum mandibular distraction distance was 20 mm, the minimum was 12 mm, and the mean was 16 mm. The posterior airway space increased from a preoperative average of 3.5 mm to a postoperative average of 9.5 mm. The AHI decreased from a mean of 5.65 to 0.85, and the lowest oxygen saturation increased from a mean of 78% to 95%. All patients were successfully extubated after the surgery, and symptoms of laryngeal obstruction such as hypoxia and feeding difficulties disappeared. Conclusion:Newborns with micrognathia and laryngomalacia have multi-planar airway obstruction. Simultaneous laryngomalacia surgery and mandibular distraction osteogenesis are safe and feasible, and can effectively alleviate symptoms of laryngeal obstruction such as hypoxia and feeding difficulties, while significantly improving the appearance of micrognathia.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Micrognathism/surgery* ; Laryngomalacia/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Mandible/surgery* ; Airway Obstruction/surgery* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngeal Diseases ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Oxygen ; Retrospective Studies