Pediatric endoscopic airway management with posterior cricoid rib grafting.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To confirm and extend reported successful treatment of posterior glottic stenosis in pediatric patients using endoscopic laser division of the posterior cricoid plate with augmentation using costal cartilage. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective chart review and case series. METHODS Medical records were examined to determine the surgical indications, outcomes, and postoperative complications of this procedure. RESULTS Twelve patients underwent the procedure, six females and six males, with an average age of 7 years (range, 2-26 years). There were 8/12 (67%) patients successfully decannulated after being tracheostomy dependent. There were no consistent anatomic abnormalities or surgical findings predictive of failure to decannulate. Average hospital stay was 3.6 days (range, 2-9 days). There were no deaths or other major complications; one patient had extrusion. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic posterior cricoid grafting is a valuable surgical option for patients with posterior glottic stenosis. The procedure is associated with low morbidity and permits decannulation in the majority of patients.