Feasibility of Surgical Treatment for Laryngomalacia Using the Spontaneous Respiration Technique

background We review our institutional experience with pediatric laryngomalacia (LM) cases and report our experience in patients undergoing supraglottoplasty using the spontaneous respiration using intravenous anesthesia and high-flow nasal oxygen (STRIVE Hi) technique. Methods The medical records of 29 children with LM who visited XX Hospital between January 2017 and March 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical management was performed using the STRIVE Hi technique. Intraoperative findings and postoperative surgical outcomes, including complications and changes in symptoms and weight, were analyzed. Results Of the total study population of 29 subjects, 20 (68.9%) were female. The patients were divided according to the Onley's classification as follows: type I (n = 13, 44.8%), II (n = 10, 34.5%), and III (n = 6, 20.7%). Twenty-five patients (86.2%) had comorbidities. Seventeen patients (58.6%) underwent microlaryngobronchoscopy under STRIVE Hi anesthesia. Four patients with several desaturation events required rescue oxygenation by intermittent intubation and mask bagging during the STRIVE Hi technique. However, the procedure was completed in all patients without any severe adverse effects. Overall, 15 children (51.7%) underwent supraglottoplasty. Among the subjects who underwent supraglottoplasty, 14 (93.3%) showed improvement of symptoms, and their postoperative weight percentile was significantly increased (p = 0.026). One patient required tracheostomy immediately after supraglottoplasty due to associated neurological disease. Conclusion The STRIVE Hi technique is feasible for supraglottoplasty in LM patients, while type III LM patients with micrognathia or glossoptosis may have a higher risk of requiring rescue oxygenation during the STRIVE Hi technique.