Laryngotracheal Stenosis in Children and Infants With Neurological Disorders: Management and Outcome

Introduction: The goal of this retrospective study is to compare the management and outcome of surgical treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis in children and infants with and without an associated neurological disorder. Patients and Method: In a series of children operated on for subglottic stenosis (SGS), patients with an associated neurological disorder were identified. The following criteria were compared in children with and without neurological disease: grade of stenosis, age, technique (Crico-Tracheal Resection (CTR), Laryngo-Tracheo-Plasty (LTP) in single and 2 stage, laser), analyzing duration, preoperative tracheostomy, decannulation rate, preoperative gastrostomy, and number of days in intensive care unit and in hospital. Results: Two hundred twenty-three children were operated on for subglottic stenosis, of whom 68 (30.5%) had an associated neurological disorder. Some criteria were found to be statistically different between the 2 populations: mean age of 43 months in neurological population versus 13 months (P <.001). The distribution of the grades of SGS appeared similar in the 2 groups (P=.088), and the mean duration of stay in hospital and in ICU were not statistically different (respectively, P=.186 and P=.056) between the 2 groups; a 2-stage procedure was performed more frequently than 1-stage in the cases with associated neurological disorder-66.6% versus 36.5% (P=.013); the median duration of stenting was 20 days in those with neurological disease versus 12 (P =.021). Preoperative tracheotomy was noted in 75% of neurological patients versus 47.7% of the others (P <.001). The outcome was considered to be good (decannulation and no further treatment) following a single procedure in 82.4% of patients with neurological disorder, as against 86.5% of neurologically unimpaired subjects. The difference in outcome of surgery was not statistically different (P=.392) between the 2 groups. Discussion and Conclusion: It appears that subglottic stenosis in children with associated neurological disorder is not more severe than in neurologically normal patients. In three-quarters of the neurologically impaired cases, a preoperative tracheostomy was needed, but the rates of failure of postoperative decannulation are not statistically significant between the 2 groups. In our experience, 2-stage techniques are more often performed than single stage in this population in order to allow airway safety, for example after feeding. If properly managed, the final results are similar in the 2 populations.