Expanding applications for the microdebrider in pediatric endoscopic airway surgery

OBJECTIVE: The microdebrider has been described for treating laryngeal papillomas, but there are no reports of other uses for this instrument in the pediatric airway. The objective of this article is to describe expanding applications for the microdebrider in pediatric airway surgery. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective review, tertiary care academic institution. RESULTS: The microdebrider was used in 75 pediatric airway procedures. Twenty-two of these cases involved novel, previously unreported applications of the microdebrider. CONCLUSIONS: The microdebrider can be used safely and effectively for a variety of pediatric airway pathologies, including papillomas, granulations, and stenoses from the larynx to the distal. trachea. SIGNIFICANCE: Correct usage of the various tip configurations on the microdebrider has made management of many airway lesions commonly encountered by pediatric otolaryngologists safer, more expedient and simpler than management by other methods. In our practice, this instrument largely has supplanted the use of the CO, laser and some open approaches for pediatric airway lesions. (C) 2005 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.