Supraglottoplasty

• Supraglottoplasty can improve noisy breathing (stridor) in babies with laryngomalacia.
• Removing the extra tissue over the vocal cords can also make it easier for your child to feed and grow.
• Supraglottoplasty can also control obstructive sleep apnea.
• Your child’s symptoms quickly improve.

Risks of supraglottoplasty are very rare, but include:

• Bleeding
• Injury to the surrounding area from surgery
• Infection
• Swelling
• Voice changes
• Scar tissue

Consulting a board-certified otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) who specializes in children’s care minimizes risks.

The doctor will examine your child to see if supraglottoplasty is a good choice for treatment. 

• You and the doctor will discuss your child’s symptoms, how long you have noticed them, and how the problem is affecting your child’s life. 
• The doctor may recommend a test in the office to look at your child’s voice box with a flexible camera called a laryngoscope.
• Sleep tests can see if the problem is interfering with your child’s breathing during sleep.

Supraglottoplasty takes place in a hospital operating room and lasts about two hours.

1. Your child is asleep under general anesthesia.
2. The operation is performed with tiny instruments guided through a hollow, lighted tube called an endoscope.
3. Using surgical instruments or laser beams, the doctors remove or destroy the extra tissue that is causing feeding and breathing problems.

• Your child will spend a day or two in the hospital under observation. 
• For very young babies, a breathing tube might be needed for a short time.
• Breathing and feeding are likely to improve quickly.
• Your child goes to follow-up appointments after one month and after three months to check healing.