Objective
To determine whether there is an ideal age at which to perform a laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) in the pediatric population.
Design
Prospective observational study.
Setting
Tertiary care children's hospital.
Patients
Forty-eight patients aged 48 months or younger with laryngotracheal stenosis who underwent 50 LTRs from October 1, 1986, to June 30, 1995. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1, aged 8 through 24 months (22 patients); group 2, aged 25 through 48 months (26 patients).
Intervention
Endoscopy and LTR.
Main Outcome Measures
Successful decannulation.
Results
Statistical analysis showed that (1) patients in group 2 had more severe degree of laryngotracheal stenosis as determined by duration of stenting with no difference in multiple sites of stenosis or type of repair required to correct laryngotracheal stenosis and (2) patients in group 2 were more likely to have successful decannulation.
Conclusion
Laryngotracheal reconstruction at a younger age (<25 months) is important for a child's speech and language development as well as for eliminating the morbidity and mortality associated with a tracheotomy. However, LTR at a younger age is associated with a higher risk of failure despite lesser degree of pathology. Therefore, although we still recommend LTR at a younger age since it may be beneficial for a child's speech and language development and avoidance of tracheotomy complications, this recommendation may be at the price of LTR failure and requirement for revision procedures.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123:206-208
