Endoscopic surgery for treatment of paediatric upper airway diseases

Abstract

Abstract In September 2005, the 3rd OPBG/Mayo Clinic Joint Conference was held in Rome to highlight current views in paediatric medicine. After an overview of the various pathologies, the Otolaryngology Unit of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital of Rome described their own experience with endoscopic surgery for the treatment of upper airway diseases between 2002 and 2004. During this period, 1500 paediatric endoscopies were performed for obstructive upper airway disease. A total of 80% of patients were under 2 years of age. The aetiological causes of upper airway obstruction most frequently cited were: foreign bodies (the most frequent reason for urgent endoscopic treatment), choanal atresia, severe laryngomalacia, laryngeal cysts, neurological lesions (vocal fold paralysis), laryngeal clefts, laryngeal haemangiomas, recurrent respiratory papilloma, tracheoesophageal fistula, tracheal granuloma and tubercular adenobronchial fistula. In all the patients, stridor disappeared following surgery. No complications, such as aspiration or supraglottic stenosis, were identified and no revision surgeries were required. Stenting was necessary in only three cases. This study described the OPBG management of paediatric airway obstruction and outcomes during a 3-year period and was the starting point for reflection on this topic.