An unusual clinical course of congenital subglottic stenosis – case report

Abstract

Aim: To report an unusual clinical course of an infant with congenital laryngeal stridor. Indications for endoscopic examination of airways in such cases have also been discussed. Case report: A full-term male newborn was admitted to the Department of Paediatrics because of the symptoms of acute scrotum as well as because of breathing difficulties and severe hypoxemia. Soon after surgery the child was extubated but breathing difficulties persisted. A loud inspiratory stridor together with rapid respiratory deterioration occurred. The infant was intubated and underwent mechanical ventilation again. In the following period several trials of extubation were repeatedly unsuccessful despite favourable weaning parameters. Just few hours after each trial of extubation symptoms of acute laryngotracheobronchitis were apparent. Because of extubation failure, tube dependency and persistent atypical symptoms of croup unresponsive to standard pharmacotherapy, endoscopic assessment was performed at the age of one month. Concentric central membranous subglottic stenosis was visualized. While preparing for the endoscopic laser ablation treatment, stridor was getting less pronounced. Two weeks later patient underwent endoscopy again and significant regression of subglottic membrane narrowing was documented. Planned laser intervention was canceled. At the age of four months stridor disappeared. Conclusion: Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of congenital laryngeal stridor and endoscopic evaluation is usually not indicated in such cases. However, there are other causes of congenital stridor which are not so common, including congenital subglotttic stenosis. In this case an unusual spontaneous regression of congenital membranous subglottic stenosis was reported.