Role of long-term stenting in treatment of pediatric subglottic stenosis.

Twelve cases of childhood subglottic stenosis diagnosed either acquired or congenital were treated using an endolaryngotracheal Montgomery T-tube. Stenting lasted on average 5.6 months. Tracheotomy closure was possible in 75% of cases on average 15.3 months after diagnosis. Tube-linked complications involved the child pulling out, forward migration of the tube out, lower tracheal migration of the tube, clogging and the formation of granulation tissue at its superior extremity. Comparison of outcomes with those for laryngeal surgery (cricoid split, laryngotracheal reconstruction) found in the literature, suggests that long-term T-tube stenting is the optimal treatment for subglottic stenosis where tracheomalacia precludes laryngeal surgery.