Surgical removal of subglottic hemangiomas in children

Objective.. To examine the indications and the results of surgical excision of severe subglottic hemangiomas. Design: Retrospective study and case Ser ies. Setting: Four academic tertiary care centers of pediatric otolaryngolo gy. Patients: Twenty children were included from 1991 to 1997. All presente d with severe subglottic hemangiomas resistant to classical:treatments such as corticosteroids and/or CO2 laser. Intervention: Six children were opera ted on using laryngotracheal reconstruction and prolonged stenting by a rei nforced Silastic roll and 14 children were operated on by a single-stage la ryngotracheoplasty and postoperative intubation in a pediatric intensive ca re unit. Results: All patients were successfully decannulated or extubated and have been free from recurrent hemangiomas. Conclusion: The surgery of s evere subglottic hemangiomas is a reliable technique in selected patients a nd should be considered in corticoresistant or corticodependent, circular, or bilateral hemangiomas.