Lower airway anomalies in infants with laryngomalacia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of associated airway anomalies in infants presenting with moderate to severe laryngomalacia.

METHODS: Eighty three (83) symptomatic infants with recurrent respiratory symptoms including wheeze and cough diagnosed as moderate to severe laryngomalacia based on their clinical and direct laryngoscopic findings were subjected to fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) during the period March 2007 to February 2009 in the Department of Pulmonology, Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai, India. Analysis of the clinical features, radiological findings and associated lower airway anomalies by FOB was done.

RESULTS: Lower airway anomalies were demonstrated in 40 (48%) infants of the study population. Tracheomalacia was the most common lower airway anomaly 24 (29%) followed by bronchomalacia 8(10%) and tracheobronchomalacia 6 (7%). (4:1:1).

CONCLUSION: Infants with moderate and severe laryngomalacia should be evaluated with flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy to rule out associated lower airway lesions.