ROLE OF LONG-TERM STENTING IN TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC SUBGLOTTIC STENOSIS

Twelve cases of childhood subglottic stenosis diagnosed either acquire d or congenital were treated using an endolaryngotracheal Montgomery T -tube. Stenting lasted on average 5.6 months. Tracheotomy closure was possible in 75% of cases on average 15.3 months after diagnosis. Tube- linked complications involved the child pulling out, forward migration of the tube out, lower tracheal migration of the tube, clogging and t he formation of granulation tissue at its superior extremity. Comparis on of outcomes with those for laryngeal surgery (cricoid split, laryng otracheal reconstruction) found in the literature, suggests that long- term T-tube stenting is the optimal treatment for subglottic stenosis where tracheomalacia precludes laryngeal surgery.