Clinical characteristics of severe infant laryngomalacia diagnosed by flexible bronchoscopy and the curative effect of laser therapy

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of severe infant laryngomalacia diagnosed by fle-xible bronchoscopy, and to investigate the effectiveness and safety of treatment on it. Methods Data of 29 severe laryngomalacia patients from Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital diagnosed by flexible bronchoscopy were analyzed from March 2013 to July 2015, retrospectively. Twelve cases of them received laser therapy under balanced intravenous anesthesia. Preoperative and postoperative pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2), pulmonary function, and dyspnea index were analyzed statistically. Results After supraglottoplasty with laser, the findings were as follows: SpO2 (94.26±1.30)%, tidal volume(6.11±0.77) mL/kg, time to peak tidal expiratory flow/expiratory time 27.42±3.51, volume at time of peak expiratory flow/expiratory volume 30.95±5.46, and dyspnea index 1.95±1.05; while preoperative findings were SpO2 (82.45±1.35)%, tidal volume(5.30±1.03) mL/kg, time to peak tidal expiratory flow/expiratory time 27.42±3.51, volume at time of peak expiratory flow/expiratory volume 21.93±7.23, and dyspnea index 2.75±0.84, respectively, and there were significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative therapy(all P<0.05). Complications were not observed over the next 6 months after operations. Conclusions Severe infant laryngomalacia has influence on living quality of patients, which can be diagnosed by flexible bronchoscopy. Laser therapy is a safe effective cure for it. Key words: Infants; Laryngomalacia; Flexible bronchoscopy; Laser therapy