Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Apr;282(4):1971-1980.
doi: 10.1007/s00405-024-09172-0. Epub 2025 Jan 14.

Supraglottoplasty outcomes and peri-operative care in congenital laryngomalacia

B Sabran  1   2 , Z Ghelab  3 , E Bois  3 , E Chebib  3 , S Levivien  3 , L Kahn  3 , S Bellanger  3 , T Van Den Abbeele  3   4 , N Teissier  3   4 , C Benoit  3   4
Affiliations

Supraglottoplasty outcomes and peri-operative care in congenital laryngomalacia

B Sabran et al. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors predicting postoperative ICU admission, the need for orotracheal intubation (OTI), and the occurrence of supraglottic stenosis in children undergoing supraglottoplasty for laryngomalacia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 children who underwent supraglottoplasty at Robert Debre University Hospital from February 2016 to June 2023. Patient demographics, medical history, pre- and postoperative findings, and outcomes were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using R software.

Results: A total of 60% of patients required ICU admission postoperatively. Factors predictive of ICU admission included a history of genetic anomalies, younger age at surgery, poor weight gain, and preoperative enteral feeding. Among those requiring OTI, significant predictors included a history of neurological disease, abnormal vocal cord mobility, and intraoperative arterial oxygen saturation dropping below 90%. Two patients developed supraglottic stenosis, with a noted correlation to surgical technique and preoperative respiratory severity.

Conclusion: While supraglottoplasty is generally safe and effective, specific factors can predict the need for postoperative ICU care and intubation. The findings highlight the importance of thorough preoperative assessments and optimization of gastroesophageal reflux management to mitigate complications.

Keywords: ICU admission; Laryngomalacia; Orotracheal intubation; Supraglottic stenosis; Supraglottoplasty.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of Interest: The two co-first authors declare that they have not received any funding for the purposes of this study.

Comment in

References

    1. Daniel SJ (2006) The upper airway: Congenital malformation. Peadiatric Respir Rev 7(Suppl. 1):S260–S263 - DOI
    1. Munson PD, Saad AG, El-Jamal SM, Dai Y, Bower CM, Richter GT (2011) Submucosal nerve hypertrophy in congenital laryngomalacia. Laryngoscope 121:627–629 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Thompson DM (2007) Abnormal sensorimotor integrative function of the larynx in congenital laryngomalacia: a new theory of etiology. Laryngoscope 117:s1-33 - DOI
    1. Edmondson NE, Bent JP 3rd, Chan C (2011) Laryngomalacia: the role of gender and ethnicity. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 75(12):1562–1564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2011.09.008 . (Epub 2011 Sep 28 PMID: 21955525) - DOI - PubMed
    1. Boogaard R, Huijsmans SH, Pijnenburg MW, Tiddens HA, de Jongste JC, Merkus PJ (2005) Tracheomalacia and bronchomalacia in children: incidence and patient characteristics. Chest 128(5):3391–3397 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources