Laser supraarytenoidectomy for laryngomalacia with apnea.

Laryngomalacia, the most common congenital abnormality of the larynx, is a mild self-limiting disorder in the vast majority of cases. Severely obstructive cases do occur. In the past, these have required treatment with a tracheotomy. At St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, laryngomalacia was diagnosed in one-hundred and fifty-three infants during the three-year period from 1986 through 1988. Patients who had unusually severe symptoms, such as apneic spells, impaired ability to eat and severe choking episodes, were evaluated with four channel nasal thermister pneumocardiograms (sleep studies). Four infants with severe laryngomalacia had sleep studies which demonstrated obstructive apnea. In these infants, the carbon dioxide laser was used to vaporize excess floppy supraarytenoid tissue, a supraarytenoidectomy.