Type IV laryngotracheoesophageal clefts - recent 5 year experience at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children

This article summarises a 5 year experience of type IV laryngotracheoesopha geal clefts from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London. We pres ent six infants who had type IV clefts, two of whom are long-term survivors , and we review the literature. The recognition of specific complicating is sues may lead to a standardised approach, which can result in successful re pair and long-term survival. Increased awareness of the condition and early diagnosis combined with aggressive, planned surgical intervention in centr es of paediatric expertise should result in a significant reduction of curr ent mortality. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.