Abstract
Objective. To discuss the presentation, evaluation, and
management of congenital laryngeal webs.
Methods: The Institutional approved this retrospective review
of all patients who were diagnosed with laryngeal webs at our
institution within the past 10 years.
Results: There were 3 type I and II webs and 7 type III and IV
webs; All 3 children with type I and II laryngeal webs recovered after a
single endoscopic procedure, while children with type III and IV
laryngeal webs usually had a record of multiple visits to the hospital
with multiple treatments. In all 7 children with type III and IV webs, a
tracheotomy was performed. The average age of the patients who underwent
tracheotomy was 4.86 months(range,1-11mo). Six of the seven children
(85.7%) with type III and IV webs displayed subglottic stenosis. The
ultimate treatment for such patients was open laryngoplasty.
Conclusions: children with type III and IV laryngeal webs were
more likely to have subglottic stenosis and needed to undergo
tracheotomy earlier. They usually had a record of multiple visits to the
hospital with multiple treatments. Open laryngoplasty combined with the
implantation of a T-tube and reconstruction of the cricoid cartilage
using hyoid bone may play a crucial role in the treatment of congenital
laryngeal webs with subglottic stenosis.
Keywords: congenital laryngeal webs, T-tube, open
laryngoplasty, hyoid bone reconstruction of the cricoid cartilage,
subglottic stenosis