Balloon dilation laryngoplasty for subglottic stenosis in children: eight years' experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcomes of balloon dilation laryngoplasty for laryngeal stenosis in children.

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

SETTING: Academic tertiary care department of pediatric otolaryngology.

PATIENTS: All children treated with laryngeal balloon dilation (primarily or secondarily following laryngeal surgery) from 2002 to 2010.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stenosis severity, measured using the Cotton and Myer classification.

RESULTS: A total of 44 children ranging in age from 1 month to 10 years (14 [32%] with grade II stenosis, 25 [59%] with grade III stenosis, and 4 [9%] with grade IV stenosis) were included. Twelve children [27%] had congenital laryngeal stenoses, and the in other 32 [7 3%], stenosis was acquired. A total of 52 balloon dilation laryngoplasties were performed, and 37 (71%) were deemed successful. Twenty of the 31 patients undergoing primary dilation (65%) had successful outcomes, and in the other 11 [35%], outcomes were unsuccessful (4 had grade II stenosis and 7 had grade III stenosis) and required either laryngotracheal reconstruction or tracheotomy. Twenty-one balloon dilations were performed as a secondary procedure after recent open surgery; 17 of the procedures (81%) were successful, and thus surgical revision was avoided.

CONCLUSION: Balloon dilation laryngoplasty is an efficient and safe technique for the treatment of both primary and secondary pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis.