We measured interarytenoid notch height (IANH) in 20 young children who required direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia. By means of a specifically designed instrument, we found that the average IANH approximated 3 mm. Laryngeal incompetence on swallowing or in the presence of gastroesophageal reflux is associated with a low ianh (p < .0001). Therefore, ianh may be a measure of relative laryngeal incompetence.
DuBoisJJPokornyWJHarbergFJSmithRJ. Current management of laryngeal and laryngotracheoesophageal clefts. J Pediatr Surg1990; 25: 855–60.
2.
EvansJNG. Management of the cleft larynx and tracheoesophageal clefts. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1985; 94: 627–30.
3.
CottonRTSchreiberJT. Management of laryngotracheoesophageal cleft. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1981; 90: 401–5.
4.
MyerCMIIICottonRTHolmesDKJacksonRK. Laryngeal and laryngotracheoesophageal clefts: Role of early surgical repair. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1990; 99: 98–104.
5.
ChitwoodWRBostWSPoriesWJGowenMASaldahnaRL. Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft: Endoscopic diagnosis and surgical repair. Ann Thorac Surg1989; 48: 292–4.
EriksenCZwillenbergDRobinsonN. Diagnosis and management of cleft larynx. Literature review and case report. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1990; 99: 703–8.
8.
McIlwainJC. Clinical aspects of the posterior glottis: A review. J Otolaryngol1991; 20: 74–87.
9.
HiranoMSatoK. Histological color atlas of the human larynx. San Diego, Calif: Singular Publishing Group, 1992.
10.
NegusVE. Mechanism of the larynx. St Louis, Mo: CV Mosby, 1929: 442–68.
11.
LimTASpanierSSKohutRI. Laryngeal clefts. A histopathologic study and review. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1979: 88: 837–5.
12.
PetterssonG.Inhibited separation of larynx and the upper part of the trachea from the esophagus in a newborn. Acta Chir Scand1955; 110: 250–4.
13.
ArmitageEN. Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft: A report of 3 cases. Anaesthesia1984; 39: 706–13.
14.
CohenSR. Cleft larynx. A report of seven cases. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1975; 84: 747–56.
15.
CohenSRThompsonJW. Ventral cleft of the larynx: A rare congenital laryngeal defect. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1990; 99: 281–5.
16.
DelahuntyJECherryJ. Congenital laryngeal cleft. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1969; 78: 96–106.
17.
GartlanMGPetersonKLHoffmanHTLuscheiESSmithRJH. Bipolar hooked-wire electromyographic technique in the evaluation of pediatric vocal cord paralysis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1993; 102: 695–700.
