LARYNGOTRACHEAL STENOSIS IN CHILDREN AFTER INTUBATION - REPORT OF 5 CASES

Acquired laryngotracheal stenosis is a serious long term complication of tracheal intubation with an incidence of 0.7 to 8% in intubated chi ldren. We report five cases of subglottic stenosis over a 4.5-year per iod and review the pathology and pathogenesis of the condition. A diag nosis of subglottic stenosis was suspected. when extubation failed due to the onset of dyspnoea or laryngeal strider. An incidence of 0.9% o f all intubated children was observed. We conclude that the main compo nents contributing to stenosis are pathologies with decreased mucosal capillary perfusion pressure and intubation conditions.