ABSTRACT
Posterior laryngeal clefts (PLCs) are described in the literature as rare laryngeal abnormalities. The authors believe type I clefts are much more common than previously reported. In two busy pediatric tertiary care centers, such clefts are the second most common congenital laryngeal finding at rigid endoscopy, second only to laryngomalacia. PLCs frequently present with symptomatology that can be attributed to other common disease processes and are often undiagnosed unless the surgeon maintains a high index of suspicion and specifically examines the posterior glottis by palpation during microlaryngoscopy. This report presents a series of 41 patients with type I PLCs, reviews their subtle and often confusing presenting signs and symptoms, and describes a simple yet reliable method of diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Larynx/abnormalities , Abnormalities, Multiple , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Laryngoscopy , Male , Respiratory System Abnormalities/classification , Respiratory System Abnormalities/diagnosisABSTRACT
This is a case presentation of a neonate with McKusick-Kaufman Syndrome (hydrometrocolpos, polydactyly and congenital heart disease) accompanied by a complete tracheal ring in the distal trachea. This undiagnosed anomaly caused acute respiratory failure after another surgical procedure. Emergent bronchoscopy revealed the diagnosis and the ring was successfully dilated. This is the only known survivor of a complete tracheal ring associated with this syndrome.
