LASER ARYEPIGLOTTOPLASTY FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEURASTHENIC LARYNGOMALACIA IN CEREBRAL-PALSY

Patients with cerebral palsy usually suffer from lack of coordination in the neuromuscular mechanism in their upper airway and digestive tra ct. Difficulty in swallowing and aspiration are common problems in the se patients, and stridorous breathing sometimes develops as a secondar y symptom. Laryngoscopic examination revealed that redundant tissue in the aryepiglottic fold area was the cause of strider and upper airway obstruction in four patients with cerebral palsy. We report on these four patients in whom laser reduction of the redundant mucosa led to d ramatic improvements in strider. Secondary benefits to family members and others were equally impressive.