Use of the microdebrider in pediatric endoscopic airway surgery

Purpose of review Pediatric patients can present with a variety of airway problems that require surgical intervention. A number of modalities are available to the surgeon to address many different types of lesions and deformities. The microdebrider has become an indispensable tool for some surgeons and has supplanted the use of older instruments and techniques. All surgeons participating in the care of pediatric patients should be aware of the potential uses of the microdebrider. Recent findings Microdebriders have been developed over the past decade specifically for use in surgery in the lower airway and also in pediatric patients. These instruments have their roots in older instruments used in orthopedic arthroscopic procedures and endoscopic sinus surgery. A limited number of publications have identified the usefulness of the microdebrider in adult patients to address lesions of the larynx and lower airway. Even fewer articles have been published in the pediatric literature. The microdebrider has been found, in many clinical scenarios, to be a more efficient, less traumatic, and less costly instrument to use than traditional methods. Some older surgical techniques have been enhanced and found to have better outcomes when a microdebrider is used. Summary Microdebriders have been shown to be an important tool in the armamentarium of many surgeons who care for pediatric patients with airway problems. Modifications in existing instruments and developments of new instruments have made it possible to apply this technology to lesions and deformities anywhere from the nasal cavity to the proximal bronchi.