Surgical correction of subglottic stenosis of the larynx. Clinical results of the Fearon-Cotton operation.

Thirty-five cases of subglottic stenosis were treated by one of the authors during the 6-1/2 year period January 1970 to June 1976 inclusive. Six of these failed to respond to routine management by repeated dilatation or were considered unlikely to do so. These cases were treated by a new operation, the experimental aspects of which have been previously described. Two of the six cases have been successfully extubated and two others will be so in the near future. An analysis of the problems encountered and some possible solutions are presented, as is a brief description of the operative procedure. The carbon dioxide gas laser would appear to have an important part to play in the management of glottic and subglottic webs, but its value has yet to be proven.