Epiglottoplasty for the Treatment of Laryngomalacia

Abstract

Laryngomalacia is the most common congenital laryngeal anomaly. Patients present with different degrees of stridor and feeding problems that usually resolve by 18 months of age. A small number present with severe feeding problems, failure to thrive, stridor with cyanosis, and apnea, which may result in cardiopulmonary disease. These infants require surgical intervention, usually a hyomandibulopexy or tracheotomy. We present a new procedure, epiglottoplasty, that is performed endoscopically and involves excision of redundant mucosa over the lateral edges of the epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds, arytenoids, and corniculate cartilages. Ten patients have undergone this procedure with good results. Epiglottoplasty represents an alternative to tracheotomy in severe laryngomalacia. Indications, techniques, postoperative management, and complications are presented.