Contemporary surgical management of laryngeal stenosis in children.

Both congenital and acquired subglottic stenoses are common problems in pediatric otolaryngology, but their treatment remains controversial. While conservative therapy, consisting of dilation and observation, may be appropriate for congenital stenoses, open surgical procedures are generally needed to correct acquired stenoses. Two major reconstructive methods, costal cartilage grafting and laryngotracheoplasty, are currently in use. The anterior cricoid split is a specialized procedure used for extubation in the neonate. Aggressive surgical intervention has produced consistently good results and early decannulation. Laryngeal growth has not been affected adversely by these external operations.