Ten-year review of laryngotracheal reconstruction for paediatric airway stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: To review the outcomes of paediatric patients with laryngotracheal stenosis treated at our institution by laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR).

METHODS: A single surgeon personal series retrospective review of case notes over a 10-year period from a single site tertiary referral paediatric otolaryngology department in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis treated with laryngotracheal reconstruction. Evaluation was based on the last laryngotracheal endoscopy, and a retrospective review of the patient's data.

RESULTS: Seventy-three open laryngotracheal procedures were undertaken for paediatric laryngotracheal stenosis from the period 1995-2005. Fourteen were cricoid split operations and will be described elsewhere. The remaining 59 procedures were cartilage graft laryngtracheal reconstructions, performed on 53 patients (37 single stage and 16 staged) with 6 having required revisions.

CONCLUSIONS: LTR provides good results for subglottic stenosis (SGS) as primary or salvage operations. The procedure has no deleterious effects on laryngeal growth. The causes of failed procedures are discussed.