Laryngomalacia

Abstract

Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in neonates and infants. In laryngomalacia, there is a supraglottic collapse of the larynx during inspiration leading to obstruction and thus resulting in stridor. The exact etiology of laryngomalacia is still unknown. The neurological basis is one of the leading theories explaining the etiology. Laryngomalacia in most of the patients resolves with conservative management by two years of age. In severe cases of laryngomalacia or when symptoms are persistent beyond two years of age, such cases need surgical management in the form of supraglottoplasty. Flexible fibreoptic laryngoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of laryngomalacia. Various classifications have been proposed to classify laryngomalacia, although considering dynamic airway changes might be the most acceptable basis for classification. Supraglottoplasty has higher success and a low complication rate.