A case of laryngeal cleft

ABSTRACT

Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by a midline defect of variable length between the posterior larynx and trachea and the anterior wall of the esophagus which was first reported by Richter in 1792. The male, birth weight 2780 gm, was born our hospital, After birth the infant breathed spontaneously, cried immediately but weak and did well initially but after minutes appeared moderate amount of mucus in the mouth, and sterile water was given but immediately vomited with chocking, cough and cyanosis. A nasogastric tube was inserted through the esophagus without resistance and kinking. Esophagogram was showed spillage of contrast media simultaneously into trachea and esophagus. In direct laryngoscopy, there appeared to be small laryngeal cleft posteriorly, to the level of vocal cord. But bronchoscopy could not be performed due to narrow tracheal orifice. So we confirmed the laryngeal cleft by means of CT and MRI of neck. CT and MRI scan of neck demonstrated a cleft in interarytenoid lesion and connection between esophagus and laryngeal lumen.