[Laryngeal stenosis in children. Evaluation of 10 years of treatment].

Over a 10 year period from 1984 to 1994, 98 children underwent curative treatment for sub-glottal stenosis of the larynx at La Timone Hospital in Marseille, France. Eighty-two patients were operated on via an external approach. An endoscopic procedure with the CO2 laser was used in 16 cases. The majority of the children had acquired stenosis (77%), with greater than 70% obstruction (65%), and were under 5 years of age (60%). The details of the different therapeutic techniques used are presented. The laryngotracheoplasty technique used to widen the larynx (n = 58) with an autologous rib cartilage (n = 53) is the most important current progress. The possibilities for laryngotracheofissure (n = 21) and cricotracheal resection (n = 3) are also discussed. After decannulation, 95% of the children could breath normally via the natural airways. The quality of the outcome was not dependent on the therapeutic method used. Perspectives for new methods or modifications of existing methods are discussed.