[Intubation or tracheotomy in severe subglottic laryngitis].

A retrospective study to assess safety of nasotracheal intubation for subglottic laryngitis in children was conducted in 44 cases treated in the Intensive Care Unit of Hôpital Bretonneau, France between 1971 and 1981. Intubation had been performed in 40 children, and immediate tracheotomy in the other 4. The course of the affection was favorable in 37 (92,5%) of intubated children, secondary tracheotomy being necessary in only 3 cases. A mean duration of 84 hours of intubation was sufficient in 24 children, a total mean duration of 180 hours being required in the 13 other cases. The catheter employed in the 3 tracheotomized children with morbilous laryngitis was too large, and laryngeal stenosis developed in 2 of them. These findings demonstrate that when a catheter of correct size (1/2 size below that indicated by the weight and age of the child) is employed, nasotracheal intubation for severe subglottic laryngitis is a safe procedure.