Stridor and airway compromise.

A graduated approach to the diagnosis of airway lesion will rarely fail. The availability of state-of-the-art optical equipment, excellent anesthesia, and high-quality medical care have remarkably reduced the morbidity and mortality of airway diseases. Electrodiagnosis of vocal cord paralysis will differentiate fixed arytenoids from neurogenic paralysis in candidates for laryngeal repair and will help define the prognosis of neurogenic paralysis. The excellent results from epiglottoplasty in treating laryngomalacia and laryngotracheal reconstruction for stenosis make obsolete any management with tracheotomy and watchful waiting. Close cooperation and good communication between the pediatrician and the otolaryngologist remain the key points for successful management.