Transient swallowing dysfunction in typically developing children following supraglottoplasty for laryngomalacia. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2014 Nov;78(11):1883-5
Date
09/10/2014Pubmed ID
25194725DOI
10.1016/j.ijporl.2014.08.017Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84907948761 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 24 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early postoperative swallowing function in otherwise typically-developing children following supraglottoplasty.
METHODS: Retrospective chart review case series.
RESULTS: Of 37 children identified as having undergone supraglottoplasty for severe laryngomalacia at our institution between January 2007 and October 2011, 24 were identified as otherwise typically developing with no indications/signs of swallowing problems pre-operatively and eligible for inclusion in this study. Twenty-two children underwent bilateral supraglottoplasty and 2 children underwent unilateral supraglottoplasty using the CO2 laser or the laryngeal skimmer microdebrider in combination with cold steel technique, based on the discretion of four Pediatric Otolaryngologists. Seventeen children were seen post-operatively for a clinical swallow evaluation. Six children were found to have swallowing dysfunction. Four of the six children showed variable symptoms, signs, or findings concerning for aspiration with oral feeding. Three of six underwent video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). All 6 children responded to dietary modifications, positioning alterations, and anti-reflux medications. All showed improvement by their 4-week post-operative follow-up visit. The median age of the 24 patients at the time of surgery was 3 months, with a range from 2 weeks to 4 years. The median age of the patients found to have transient post-operative swallowing dysfunction was 1.5 months, with a range of 2 weeks to 4 months. There was no association between post-operative swallowing dysfunction and the surgical technique employed.
CONCLUSIONS: Supraglottoplasty in otherwise typically developing children carries a risk of transient swallowing dysfunction with a low risk of persistent dysfunction. Most patients can be assessed post-operatively via clinical swallow evaluation without requiring an instrumental swallow study.
Author List
Chun RH, Wittkopf M, Sulman C, Arvedson JAuthor
Robert H. Chun MD Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Child, PreschoolDeglutition Disorders
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Laryngomalacia
Laryngoplasty
Male
Recovery of Function
Retrospective Studies
