Laryngeal reconstruction in children with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

To describe our experience in reconstructive laryngeal surgery in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

RRP is a rare laryngeal disease requiring multiple surgical endoscopic interventions during its course. These interventions may cause secondary lesions that may compromise airway patency. Open larynx reconstructive surgery, as tracheostomy, is a procedure considered to potentially favor extralaryngeal papilloma dissemination. In patients with RRP, the use of endoscopic posterior cricoid split and rib grafting has not been previously described.

The clinical charts of 230 patients with RRP seen between 1996 and 2017 were reviewed. All patients who underwent airway expansion procedures either by open or endoscopic approach were included in the study.

Four patients with RRP underwent laryngeal surgery for laryngeal stenosis were included. A double-stage open approach was used in two patients and a single-stage endoscopic approach in the remaining two. The two tracheostomized patients were decannulated while tracheostomy was avoided in the two patients who underwent a single-stage endoscopic procedure. Two patients had active papillomatous lesions limited to the larynx at the time of surgery; no dissemination was observed during follow-up (cases 1 and 3). One patient had extralaryngeal disseminated papilomatosis; surgery did not lead to an increased lesion load compared to presurgical lesions (case 4). The patient who did not have active lesions did not have recurrence (case 2).

Reconstructive laryngeal surgery is a safe and effective option in the management of stenotic sequelae resulting from the surgical treatment of RRP, allowing for decannulation or avoiding tracheostomy.