Subglottic and Glottic Stenosis

Abstract

Laryngeal stenosis involving the glottis and subglottis is a commonly encountered and potentially life-threatening pathology in children. It is important to differentiate the key features of laryngeal anatomy and clinical presentation of laryngeal stenosis in children. Endotracheal tube related injuries are an important culprit in the pathophysiology of laryngeal stenosis, particularly when intubation is traumatic. Stenosis may also occur if the size of the tube is chosen inappropriately, or if repeated intubations are performed. In one’s assessment, critical points include appropriately sizing the airway and describing the site, length and consistency of the stenosis. An approach to management can then be chosen based on the specific elements of the laryngeal stenosis and other patient-related characteristics. This review contains 11 figures, 5 tables, and 36 references Keywords: subglottic, glottic, stenosis