Stridor in the young infant is evaluated by careful laryngoscopy. When a lesion of the larynx is diagnosed, the necessity and risk of bronchoscopy are challenged. To assess the need for careful examination of both the upper and lower respiratory tract, a 2-year retrospective study was performed at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Of 103 infants who underwent diagnostic laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy for airway obstruction, stridor, or both, 18 (17.5%) had two or more synchronous airway lesions detected. Laryngoscopy alone, without further workup of the entire respiratory tract (ie, bronchoscopy, radiographic studies) may fail to detect concurrent disorders in infants with airway obstruction.
HolingerPH. Clinical aspects of congenital anomalies of the larynx, trachea, bronchi and esophagus. J Laryngol Otol1961; 75: 1–44
2.
HolingerPHJohnsonKCSchillerF. Congenital anomalies of the larynx. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1954; 63: 581–606
3.
HolingerPHBrownWT. Congenital webs, cysts, laryngoceles and other anomalies of the larynx. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1967; 76: 744–52
4.
VauthyPAReddyR. Acute upper airway obstruction in infants and children. Evaluation by the fiberoptic bronchoscope. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1980; 89: 417–8
5.
CohenSREaveyRDDesmondMSMayBC. Endoscopy and tracheotomy in the neonatal period. A 10-year review, 1967–1976. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1977; 86: 577–83
6.
HolingerLD. Etiology of stridor in the neonate, infant and child. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1980; 89: 397–400
7.
FriedmanEMWilliamsMHealyGBMcGillTGI. Pediatric endoscopy: A review of 616 cases. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1984; 93: 517–9
8.
WoodRE. Spelunking in the pediatric airways: Exploration with the flexible bronchoscope. Pediatr Clin North Am1984; 31: 785–99
9.
NussbaumE. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy and laryngoscopy in infants and children. Laryngoscope1983; 93: 1073–5
10.
FitzpatrickSBMarshBStokesDWangKP. Indications for flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in pediatric patients. Am J Dis Child1983; 137: 595–7
11.
InouyeT. Examination of the child larynx by flexible fiberoptic laryngoscope. Int J Pediatr Otolaryngol1983; 5: 317–23
