Laryngomalacia. When does surgery make sense?

The most common cause of stridor in newborns is instability of the upper larynx, called laryngomalacia. In approximately 10% of children normal development is impaired. The diagnostics and therapy must follow a clear plan that is also comprehensible to the parents. The obstruction should be localized endoscopically, the anatomical characteristics determined, and the surgical possibilities evaluated. Additional pathological changes of the upper airway (e.g., vocal fold paresis) need to be excluded. Surgery for laryngomalacia, called supraglottoplasty, allows reduction of excess mucus, transectioning of aryepiglottic folds that are too short, and in some cases epiglottic fixation to the base of the tongue. In extreme cases tracheotomy is unavoidable. Surgery is only recommended for severe cases; when carried out correctly according to the medical indications, the success rate is over 90%.