Supraglottoplasty surgery is a microscopic surgery procedure that is most often performed on children to alter malformed structures of the upper larynx.
The procedure then allows a child with certain conditions (such as severe laryngomalacia) to breathe more easily.
The Supraglottoplasty surgery procedure is done through the mouth.
There will be some degree of swelling following supraglottoplasty.
For this reason, the child may sound worse or have feeding difficulties for the first week or two after surgery.
This is normal and is not a cause for concern.
In most cases, these issues resolve in about 10 to 14 days.
Even without intervention, many children with laryngomalacia recover by the time they are 12 to 18 months old.
What is a supraglottoplasty?
A supraglottoplasty is a procedure done under anesthesia in the operating room to help your child breathe better.
This procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform.
Your child may sound worse or have some issues with feeding initially after the surgery and this can continue for up to 1-2 weeks.
This is primarily secondary swelling and/ or getting used to improved breathing or feeding.
This should resolve by 2 weeks.
In 90 percent of cases, laryngomalacia resolves without treatment by the time your child is 18 to 20 months old.
However, if the laryngomalacia is severe, your child's treatment may include medication or surgery.
How common is laryngomalacia in babies?
This condition is extremely common in infants.
Over half of all newborn babies have laryngomalacia during the first week of life, and even more develop it when they're two to four weeks old.
About 5% of infants with laryngomalacia will fall into the severe range with failure to thrive, obstructive sleep apnea, and/or signs of respiratory distress including tachypnea and retractions.
These children require supraglottoplasty surgery to relieve the obstruction.