Pediatric Airway Reconstruction at Great Ormond Street: A Ten-Year Review

Abstract

One hundred eight consecutive patients with pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis requiring airway reconstruction over a 10-year period were reviewed. Thirty-two patients required revisional airway reconstruction in an attempt to achieve decannulation. Patients underwent from one to four revisional airway reconstructions, most often laryngotracheal reconstruction with costal cartilage grafting. In the Cotton grading scheme of preoperative stenosis, those patients requiring revisional airway surgery tended to come from the more severely affected categories. Twenty-two patients of 32 (69%) achieved decannulation with revisional airway reconstruction. Thus, revisional airway reconstruction is indicated if the first attempt fails.