Surgical Intervention for Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction.

Respiratory distress during exercise can be caused by exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO). The obstruction may appear at the level of the laryngeal inlet (supraglottic), similar to supraglottic collapse observed in infants with congenital laryngomalacia (CLM). This observation has encouraged surgeons to treat supraglottic EILO with procedures proven efficient for severe CLM. This article summarizes key features of the published experience related to surgical treatment of EILO. Supraglottoplasty is an irreversible procedure with potential complications. Surgery should be restricted to cases where the supraglottic laryngeal obstruction significantly affects the quality of life in patients for whom conservative treatment modalities have failed.