Surgical treatment for laryngotracheal stenosis in the pediatric patient.

We report our experience with laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) in children during the last 12 years. Documentation and follow-up were available for 115 patients who underwent surgery for acquired or congenital LTS. Most were severe cases according to Cotton's classification. Forty-six weighed less than 10 kg at the time of surgery; 45 had pure congenital subglottic stenosis; 70 had acquired subglottic stenosis, mainly due to endotracheal intubation. The surgical techniques used have been various. The three main types of procedure were castellated laryngotracheoplasty, anterior cartilage rib grafting, and anterior and posterior cricoid cuts with or without grafting. All cases but 1 (44/45) of congenital subglottic stenosis have been successfully decannulated, 7 requiring a second procedure. The decannulation rate for acquired SGS was 89% (62/70), but 14 patients required multiple procedures. Current trends in subglottic stenosis management in our institution are presented.