Subglottic stenosis remains a difficult clinical problem with varied management approaches. An accepted procedure has been anterior and posterior cricoid incisions through an external approach for treatment of severe stenoses without a tracheotomy. The holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, 2.1 μm wavelength with a pulsed output, is transmissible through standard fibers and ablates soft tissue and cartilage with minimal surrounding damage. This study in in vitro and in vivo animal models shows that this new laser can be used to incise the anterior and posterior cricoid and tracheal cartilages with precise control and may be suitable for endoscopic laryngotracheoplasty.
CatlinFISmithRJH. Acquired subglottic stenosis in children. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1987; 96: 488–92.
2.
CottonRTMyerCMBratcherGOFittonCM. Anterior cricoid split, 1977–1987: Evolution of a technique. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1988; 114: 1300–2.
3.
HolingerLDStankiewiczJALivingstonGL. Anterior cricoid split: The Chicago experience with an alternative to tracheotomy. Laryngoscope1987; 97: 19–24.
4.
OchiJWSeidABPranskySM. An approach to the failed cricoid split operation. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol1987; 14: 229–34.
5.
ShapshaySMAretzHTSetzerSE. Soft tissue effects of the holmium-YSGG laser in the canine trachea. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1990; 102: 251–6.
6.
CottonRTSeidAB. Management of the extubation problem in the premature child: Anterior cricoid split as an alternative to tracheotomy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1980; 89: 508–11.
7.
AndersonGJTomLWCWetmoreRFHandlerSDPotsicWP. The anterior cricoid split: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia experience. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol1988; 16: 31–8.
8.
RéthiA. An operation for cicatricial stenosis of the larynx. J Laryngol Otol1956; 70: 283–93.
CrysdaleWS. Extended laryngofissure in the management of subglottic stenosis in the young child: A preliminary report. J Otolaryngol1976; 5: 479–86.
11.
RinneJGrahneBSovijärviARA. Long-term results after surgical treatment of laryngeal stenosis in small children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol1985; 10: 213–20.
12.
ZalzalGH. Use of stents in laryngotracheal reconstruction in children: Indications, technical considerations, and complications. Laryngoscope1988; 98: 849–54.
13.
ShapshaySMBearnisJFJr.HybelsRLBohigianRK. Endoscopic treatment of subglottic and tracheal stenosis by radial laser incision and dilation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1987; 96: 661–4.
14.
SimpsonGTStrongMSHealyGBShapshaySMVaughanCW. Predictive factors of success or failure in the endoscopic management of laryngeal and tracheal stenosis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1982; 91: 384–8.
15.
StrongMSHealyGBVaughanCWFriedMPShapshayS. Endoscopic management of laryngeal stenosis. Otolaryngol Clin North Am1979; 12: 797–805.
16.
ShapshaySM. Laser applications in the trachea and bronchi: A comparative study of the soft tissue effects using contact and noncontact delivery systems. Laryngoscope1987; 97(suppl 41).
17.
NussRCFabianRLSarkarRPuliafitoCA. Infrared laser bone ablation. Lasers Surg Med1988; 8: 381–91.
18.
NishiokaNSDomankevitzYFlotteTJAndersonRR. Ablation of rabbit liver, stomach, and colon with a pulsed holmium laser. Gastroenterology1989; 96: 831–7.
19.
AlexanderKJSchullerDE. Ferret model for acquired subglottic stenosis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1989; 98: 910–5.
