Congenital laryngeal stridor; a diagnostic study including technique of tracheobronchography in infants.

Abstract

CHRONIC stridor in infancy is a symptom of great interest to lay people as well as physicians because it is so noticeable. It appears at birth or shortly thereafter and may persist for one or two years. The otolaryngologist is usually called upon to examine the patient early to determine the cause of stridor, which in most instances is a benign disorder termed congenital laryngeal stridor. Other causes of chronic stridor are apt to be serious and, unless recognized early, may not prove amenable to treatment. Most of the causes of noisy breathing can readily be diagnosed by careful examination of the nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx. Direct laryngoscopy is essential in the diagnosis of the laryngeal causes of stridor but will not reveal the etiology of stridor arising in the trachea or bronchi. In the latter sites, it is necessary to resort to either bronchoscopy or tracheobronchography for further