International Pediatric ORL Group (IPOG) laryngomalacia consensus recommendations

Objective To provide recommendations for the comprehensive management of young infants who present with signs or symptoms concerning for laryngomalacia. Methods Expert opinion by the members of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG). Results Consensus recommendations include initial care and triage recommendations for health care providers who commonly evaluate young infants with noisy breathing. The consensus statement also provides comprehensive care recommendations for otolaryngologists who manage young infants with laryngomalacia including: evaluation and treatment considerations for commonly debated issues in laryngomalacia, initial work-up of infants presenting with inspiratory stridor, treatment recommendations based on disease severity, management of the infant with feeding difficulties, post-surgical treatment management recommendations, and suggestions for acid suppression therapy. Conclusion Laryngomalacia care consensus recommendations are aimed at improving patient-centered care in infants with laryngomalacia

International Pediatric ORL Group (IPOG) laryngomalacia consensus recommendations

Objective To provide recommendations for the comprehensive management of young infants who present with signs or symptoms concerning for laryngomalacia. Methods Expert opinion by the members of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG). Results Consensus recommendations include initial care and triage recommendations for health care providers who commonly evaluate young infants with noisy breathing. The consensus statement also provides comprehensive care recommendations for otolaryngologists who manage young infants with laryngomalacia including: evaluation and treatment considerations for commonly debated issues in laryngomalacia, initial work-up of infants presenting with inspiratory stridor, treatment recommendations based on disease severity, management of the infant with feeding difficulties, post-surgical treatment management recommendations, and suggestions for acid suppression therapy. Conclusion Laryngomalacia care consensus recommendations are aimed at improving patient-centered care in infants with laryngomalacia

Pathophysiology and diagnostic approach to laryngomalacia in infants

SummaryLaryngomalacia is defined as collapse of supraglottic structures during inspiration. It is the most common laryngeal disease of infancy. Laryngomalacia presents in the form of stridor, a high-pitched, musical, vibrating, multiphase inspiratory noise appearing within the first 10 days of life. Signs of severity are present in 10% of cases: poor weight gain (probably the most contributive element), dyspnoea with permanent and severe intercostal or xyphoid retraction, episodes of respiratory distress, obstructive sleep apnoea, and/or episodes of suffocation while feeding or feeding difficulties. The diagnosis is based on systematic office flexible laryngoscopy to confirm laryngomalacia and exclude other causes of supraglottic obstruction. Rigid endoscopy under general anaesthesia is only performed in the following cases: absence of laryngomalacia on flexible laryngoscopy, presence of laryngomalacia with signs of severity, search for any associated lesions prior to surgery, discrepancy between the severity of symptoms and the appearance on flexible laryngoscopy, and/or atypical symptoms (mostly aspirations). The work-up must be adapted to each child; however, guidelines recommend objective respiratory investigations in infants presenting signs of severity

Laryngomalacia surgery: a series from a tertiary pediatric hospital

AbstractLaryngomalacia is the condition responsible for 75% of the cases of stridor in children aged up to 30 months, in which there is supraglottic collapse during inhalation. Inspiratory stridor is a characteristic telltale. As many as 20% of the patients are severely affected and require surgery. Supraglottoplasty is the procedure of choice and the presence of comorbidities is the most relevant prognostic factor for surgery success.ObjectiveTo describe a series in a tertiary pediatric hospital, its success rates, and surgery prognostic factors.MethodThis retrospective cohort study enrolled 20 patients submitted to supraglottoplasty between July 2007 and May 2011.ResultsThirteen (65%) patients were males; mean age at the time of the procedure was 6.32 months. Endoscopic examination showed that 12 subjects had combined forms of laryngomalacia, 40% had associated pharyngomalacia, and three also had tracheomalacia. Thirteen subjects had isolated laryngomalacia and seven had gastroesophageal reflux disease. Fifteen (75%) patients underwent aryepiglottic fold resection. After the procedure, eleven patients were asymptomatic and two required tracheostomy. Presence of comorbidities was the strongest predictor of unfavorable postoperative outcome (p = 0.034).ConclusionSupraglottoplasty is a safe therapeutical procedure for select patients with laryngomalacia

Changes in the Quality of Life of Our Neonatal Patients Born with Severe Laryngomalacia and Treated with Endoscopic UDP Laser Supraglottoplasty

Background: Laryngomalacia is one of the most common causes of neonatal dyspnea and inspiratory stridor. In 20% of the cases laryngomalacia in newborns may lead to respiratory failure, feeding difficulties and failure to thrive. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the quality of life of the patients with laryngomalacia in the first year following ultra-dream pulse laser supraglottoplasty.Case presentation:  the assessment relevant parameters of 6 newborn patients with laryngomalacia (4:2 male:female, average age at the time of operation 12,5 days) who underwent ultra-pulse laser supraglottoplasty.Conclusion: Ultra-dream pulse laser supraglottoplasty for laryngomalacia is a safe and effective surgical modality, even if it is performed in the neonatal age

Management of laryngomalacia: experience with 22 cases

Laryngomalacia is the most frequent cause of stridor in childhood, and in most of the cases, spontaneous resolution occurs by the age of 2 years. Approximately 10% of the cases (severe laryngomalacia) require surgery. This condition is of unknown etiology and its diagnosis is made by fiberoptic laryngoscopy, which shows shortening of the aryepiglottic folds, and/or redundant arytenoid mucosa, and/or anterior-posterior epiglottic prolapse. AIM: Our objective was to verify the main clinical and anatomical affections and to highlight the clinical parameters for clinical follow-up and surgical indication in patients with laryngomalacia. STUDY DESIGN: Transversal cohort study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-two children diagnosed with laryngomalacia in the Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology of UNIFESP-EPM, from January 2001 to December 2003, whose clinical and surgical follow-up were performed by the same examiner, were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Out of twenty-two evaluated children, 2 (9.1%) presented with severe laryngomalacia and pectus excavatum (funnel chest). At polysomnography, no child presented any significant respiratory event during sleeping. Those two children with severe laryngomalacia were submitted to supraglottoplasty with resection of the aryepiglottic folds. CONCLUSION: We concluded that stridor and shortening of the aryepiglottic folds are preponderant in children with laryngomalacia. The polysomnographic exam did not prove to be a good parameter for clinical follow-up, neither for surgical indication. The most important parameters were pectus excavatum and failure to thrive. Supraglottoplasty is effective and has low morbidity rate.A Laringomalácia é a causa mais comum de estridor na infância, com resolução espontânea até os 2 anos de idade na maioria dos casos. Cerca de 10% dos casos (laringomalácia severa) necessitam de intervenção cirúrgica. O diagnóstico é estabelecido com o exame de videonasofibroscopia, na qual se observa encurtamento da prega ariepiglótica, e/ou excesso de mucosa das aritenóides, e/ou queda da epiglote no sentido ântero-posterior. A etiologia ainda permanece desconhecida. OBJETIVO: Verificar as principais alterações clínicas e anatômicas assim como identificar os principais parâmetros clínicos no acompanhamento e na indicação cirúrgica de pacientes portadores de laringomalácia. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Estudo de coorte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram incluídos neste estudo 22 crianças com diagnóstico de laringomalácia do ambulatório de otorrinolaringologia pediátrica da UNIFESP-EPM, entre janeiro de 2001 a dezembro de 2003, assistidas pelo mesmo examinador. RESULTADOS: Das 22 crianças com diagnóstico de laringomalácia, duas (9,1%) apresentavam laringomalácia severa com depressão torácica (tórax escavado). O estridor inspiratório e o encurtamento das pregas ariepiglóticas foram encontrados em todos pacientes. À polissonografia, nenhuma criança apresentou evento respiratório significativo durante o sono. As duas crianças com laringomalácia severa foram submetidas à supraglotoplastia com secção das pregas ariepiglóticas. CONCLUSÃO: O estridor respiratório e o encurtamento das pregas ariepiglóticas fazem parte preponderante do quadro clínico. A polissonografia não mostrou ser um parâmetro importante, nem para o acompanhamento clínico nem para a indicação cirúrgica, ao contrário da falta de ganho de peso e da presença de tórax escavado. A secção cirúrgica das pregas ariepiglóticas é efetiva e com baixo índice de morbidade.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Otorrinolaringologia da UNIFESPSciEL

Treatment outcome of supraglottoplasty vs. wait-and-see policy in patients with laryngomalacia

In most cases, laryngomalacia presents as a mild disease, and the symptoms resolve after wait-and-see policy. Up to 20 % of patients present with severe laryngomalacia and may require surgery (i.e. supraglottoplasty); however, the indication for surgery is not firmly established yet. The goal of this study is to determine whether supraglottoplasty results in a better outcome than wait-and-see and to investigate how different comorbidities influence outcome. A retrospective study of pediatric cases of in a tertiary referral center was performed. Photo and video documentation was available and revised in all cases. Electronic and paper charts were reviewed for the following variables: gender, sex, gestational age, birth weight, symptoms, comorbidity, date of endoscopy, severity and type of laryngomalacia, treatment modality and technique and follow-up data and a total 89 patients were included. Supraglottoplasty was found to lead to significantly faster complete improvement of laryngomalacia than wait-and-see policy (5 weeks vs. 29, p = 0.026). Synchronous airway lesions (SALs) were present in 40.4 % of patients and were associated with prolonged symptoms of laryngomalacia (38.5 weeks vs. 14.5, p = 0.043). Supraglottoplasty is safe and effective in treatment of severe laryngomalacia. SALs and comorbidities are frequently found in patients with laryngomalacia and are responsible for longer onset of complaints

Epiglottis reshaping using CO2 laser: A minimally invasive technique and its potent applications

Laryngomalacia (LRM), is the most common laryngeal abnormality of the newborn, caused by a long curled epiglottis, which prolapses posteriorly. Epiglottis prolapse during inspiration (acquired laryngomalacia) is an unusual cause of airway obstruction and a rare cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)

Polisomnographic findings on children with laryngopathies

Polysomnography is the goldstandard exam for child OSAS. When possible, polysomnography clearly distinguishes between those with isolated primary snoring and patients with sleep apnea (obstructive, central and mixed). The most common cause of OSAS in childhood is adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in childhood, though its physiopathology remains unknown. Among the most prominent theories are immaturity of the cartilaginous framework of the larynx and/or neuromuscular immaturity. OBJECTIVE: Our proposal was to describe polysomnographic findings in children with laryngomalacia or other isolated laryngeal alterations, that is, without other alterations in the upper airways. METHODS: The sample included 29 children with exclusively laryngeal alterations. All of them underwent an otorhinolaryngological exam, nasofibrolaryngoscopy and polysomnography. Information was recorded concerning age, nasofibrolaryngoscopy and polysomnography. For analysis, the children were divided into two groups: those with laryngomalacia and those with other laryngeal diseases. RESULTS: Among the 18 children with a diagnosis of laryngomalacia, 18 had central breathing events, knowing that the majority had showed dessaturation of oxihemoglobin and bradicardia. In this same group, 3 children had obstrutives events. On the other hand, 11 children with other laryngeal alterations showed no predominance of one type or another of apnea. Of these, 4 had central type breathing events and 2 obstructive type. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with laryngomalacia showed a central type apnea. Patients with various laryngeal diseases did not present a predominant type of apnea.O exame diagnóstico padrão-ouro para SAOS na infância é a polissonografia. Quando pode ser efetuado, a polissonografia separa com clareza portadores de ronco primário de pacientes com apnéia (obstrutiva, central e mista) do sono. A causa mais freqüente da SAOS na infância é a hipertrofia adenoamigdaliana. Laringomalácia é a causa mais comum de estridor na infância, porém sua fisiopatologia permanece desconhecida. Entre as teorias mais aceitas estão a imaturidade do arcabouço cartilaginoso da laringe e/ou a imaturidade neuromuscular. OBJETIVO: Nossa proposta foi descrever os achados polissonográficos de crianças portadoras de laringomalácia e outras alterações laríngeas isoladas, ou seja, sem alterações nas vias aéreas superiores. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionadas 29 crianças portadoras de alterações laríngeas exclusivas. Todas foram submetidas a exame otorrinolaringológico, nasofibrolaringoscopia e polissonografia. Foram tabulados dados relativos à idade, nasofibrolaringoscopia e polissonografia. Para análise, as crianças foram separadas em 2 grupos: portadores de laringomalácia e portadores de outras doenças laríngeas. RESULTADOS: Dentre as 18 crianças com diagnóstico de laringomalácia, 18 apresentaram eventos respiratórios do tipo central, sendo a maioria dos episódios associados à dessaturação de oxigênio e alguns à bradicardia. Nesse mesmo grupo, 3 crianças apresentaram apnéia do tipo obstrutivo. Por outro lado, as 11 crianças portadoras de outras alterações laríngeas não apresentaram predominância entre um tipo ou outro de apnéia, 4 apresentaram eventos respiratórios do tipo central, 2 do tipo obstrutivo. CONCLUSÃO: A maioria dos pacientes acometidos por laringomalácia apresentou eventos respiratórios do tipo central quando avaliados pela polissonografia. Já os pacientes com outras doenças laríngeas não apresentaram predominância entre um tipo ou outro de apnéia.UNIFESPUNIFESP-EPMUNIFESP-EPM Departamento de OtorrinolaringologiaUNIFESP-EPMUNIFESP-EPMUNIFESP, EPM Depto. de OtorrinolaringologiaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Endoscopic findings in children with stridor.

SummaryCongenital and acquired airway diseases are responsible for upper respiratory distress and stridor in children. In neonatal intensive care units, we have seen increased survival in premature babies, but also a high incidence of airway complications related to intubation, which present as stridor.AimTo review endoscopic findings in children with stridor.Study designa cross-sectional cohort study.MethodsA retrospective analysis was done of 55 cases of children with stridor who underwent endoscopic exams, between January 1997 and December 2003.Results69% were aged below one year. The main indications for endoscopy were post-extubation stridor (63.63%) and evaluation of neonatal stridor (21.82%). Many associated diseases were seen, including lung diseases (60%), neurological condition (45.4%), and GERD (40%). The main endoscopic findings and indications for tracheotomy were subglottic stenosis (27.27%) and airway inflammatory process (21.82%) occurring in children under five years old. Congenital disorders were more frequent in children under age one year.ConclusionNeonatal stridor has many causes; those related to tracheal intubation are more frequent in hospitals that treat more complex diseases. Pediatricians and otorhinolaryngologists should know the main causes of stridor and perform detailed clinical evaluations to determine case severity. The endoscopic examination, must be meticulous