[Benign laryngotracheal stenoses in pediatric age].

The diagnosis and treatment of infants and children with laryngo-tracheal pathology has changed substantially over the last 20 years. The change is the result of the continued evolution of diagnostic instruments, surgical techniques and new advancements in critical care medicine. Abnormalities in the development of the larynx may lead to congenital subglottic stenosis. A variety of pathogenic processes, either inflammatory or iatrogenic, also may damage the cricoid cartilage and lead to subglottic stenosis. The stenosis may involve alone or in combination the subglottis, glottis, upper cervical trachea. In this article the author reports a 12 years experience in 114 patients affected by benign laryngo-tracheal stenosis. These patients are classified in two groups: 1) 75 patients with congenital stenosis, 2) 39 patients with acquired stenosis. For the diagnose video-endoscopy has been used, and for the classification the Cotton's technique has been used. To get the best results in this pathology it is very important to have a multidisciplinary approach.