Treatment of Acquired Subglottic Stenosis

Abstract

Four children, who had undergone major cardiac surgery, were treated for severe subglottic stenosis following prolonged endotracheal intubation and assisted respiration. Following removal of the endotracheal tube, all required tracheotomy after varying lengths of time. An adequate airway and good voice was obtained in each with injections of triamcinolone acetonide suspension combined with hyaluronidase, and gentle dilatations. This treatment greatly reduced the needed time of tracheotomy maintenance from that required with the previously recommended conservative management consisting of dilatations only. It also avoided the use of alloplastic stents which frequently resulted in a deformed larynx and poor voice.