Pediatric Airway Surgery: Advances in Evaluation and Endoscopic Management

Abstract

Pediatric airway evaluation and surgery have evolved over time to involve less invasive techniques in order to facilitate quicker recovery and potentially less discomfort. Over the past decade, new indications, techniques, and data have emerged to support the use of these techniques routinely. In this article, we present techniques for evaluation and outcomes for endoscopic management of the pediatric larynx and review relevant recent publications relevant to pediatric endoscopic airway surgery. Laryngeal ultrasound has been shown to be an effective modality for evaluating vocal fold motion and potentially for evaluating laryngeal lesions. Innovations in surgical techniques include epiglottopexy for supraglottic obstruction, new airway balloons for dilating subglottic stenosis, and endoscopic cricoid split with or without a cartilage graft and vocal fold suture lateralization for bilateral vocal fold immobility. Less invasive techniques of diagnosis and management are viable options for pediatric airway patients and may replace or serve as adjuncts to traditional modalities.