A new approach to the surgical correction of congenital laryngeal stridor.

Abstract

This discussion applies to the surgical correction of that variety of congenital laryngeal stridor resulting from hypermobility of the epiglottis. This may be the result of defective morphology and/or excessive flexibility from softness of the cartilage. The patient has difficulty breathing from obstruction of the glottis by the epiglottis. This condition is usually intermittent. It is generally a self-terminating disease clearing by the age of 2 years. There are instances of this disease in which clearing failed to occur. There have been deaths resulting when stridor was complicated by an acute or chronic process. Three procedures have been recommended for the treatment of severe cases—tracheotomy, amputation of the epiglottis, and trimming of the edematous aryepiglottic folds. 1-4 Two severe cases were seen which required intervention. These were handled with a new technique not previously described. The simplicity and effectiveness of the treatment warrants its consideration by others. The base of