Surgical removal of subglottic hemangiomas in children.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the indications and the results of surgical excision of severe subglottic hemangiomas.

DESIGN: Retrospective study and case series.

SETTING: Four academic tertiary care centers of pediatric otolaryngology.

PATIENTS: Twenty children were included from 1991 to 1997. All presented with severe subglottic hemangiomas resistant to classical treatments such as corticosteroids and/or CO2 laser.

INTERVENTION: Six children were operated on using laryngotracheal reconstruction and prolonged stenting by a reinforced Silastic roll and 14 children were operated on by a single-stage laryngotracheoplasty and postoperative intubation in a pediatric intensive care unit.

RESULTS: All patients were successfully decannulated or extubated and have been free from recurrent hemangiomas.

CONCLUSION: The surgery of severe subglottic hemangiomas is a reliable technique in selected patients and should be considered in corticoresistant or corticodependent, circular, or bilateral hemangiomas.