UNILATERAL ENDOSCOPIC SUPRAGLOTTOPLASTY FOR SEVERE LARYNGOMALACIA

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of unilateral supraglottoplasty in th Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Pediatric tertiary referral center. Patients: Eighteen children with severe laryngomalacia. Indications for surgical intervention were obstructive apnea, failure to thrive, cyanosis, and/or cor pulmonale. Interventions: Unilateral carbon dioxide laser removal of redundant supraglottic tissue (supraglottoplasty). Outcome Measures: Evaluation of relief of symptoms, need for subsequent contralateral procedure, and incidence of complications. Results: Three patients required treatment of the opposite side at a later date. There were no complications. Obstructive apnea and weight gain improved in all. Conclusions: Unilateral supraglottoplasty can be used to treat severe laryngomalacia in most patients. A small percentage of patients will subsequently require a contralateral procedure. Unilateral supraglottoplasty may have less risk of complications than bilateral supraglottoplasty.