Surgical removal of subglottic hemangiomas in children.

Abstract

To examine the indications and the results of surgical excision of severe subglottic hemangiomas. Retrospective study and case series. Four academic tertiary care centers of pediatric otolaryngology. Twenty children were included from 1991 to 1997. All presented with severe subglottic hemangiomas resistant to classical treatments such as corticosteroids and/or CO2 laser. Six children were operated on using laryngotracheal reconstruction and prolonged stenting by a reinforced Silastic roll and 14 children were operated on by a single-stage laryngotracheoplasty and postoperative intubation in a pediatric intensive care unit. All patients were successfully decannulated or extubated and have been free from recurrent hemangiomas. The surgery of severe subglottic hemangiomas is a reliable technique in selected patients and should be considered in corticoresistant or corticodependent, circular, or bilateral hemangiomas.