[Laryngeal anomalies in newborn infants. Apropos of 687 cases].

Congenital laryngeal anomalies are a frequent cause of obstructive dyspnea in neonates and young infants, and raise diagnostic and emergency treatment problems. Clinical symptomatology includes stridor of variable severity, obstructive dyspnea and deglutition disorders, but a less typical picture may be seen of apnea, cyanotic episodes, bradycardia and even cardiac arrests. A retrospective study of 687 case-reports of infants treated between 1974 and 1983 was conducted. Lesions included essential congenital laryngeal stridor (laryngomalacia) in 378 cases (50%), of which 15% were severe with respiratory distress and/or deglutition disorders; laryngeal palsy in 161 cases (23%), bilateral in 56 and unilateral in 105 cases; laryngeal incoordination in 23 cases; laryngeal stenosis: 79 cases (11%) including 58 subglottic and 18 dysphragmatic stenoses and 3 atresias; subglottic hematoma: 49 cases; ary-epiglottic or glosso-epiglottic cyst: 15 cases; laryngeal diastema: 11 cases; and bifid epiglottis: 1 case. Clinical, radiologic and endoscopic findings, and the principal therapies used, are discussed for each anomaly.