Carbon dioxide laser versus cold-steel supraglottoplasty: A comparison of post-operative outcomes

Supraglottoplasty is the mainstay of surgical treatment for laryngomalacia, and is commonly performed via two methods: cold steel or carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser. The degree of post-operative monitoring following supraglottoplasty varies, both within and between institutions. The aim of this study was to compare the post-operative monitoring and interventions required by patients undergoing cold-steel versus CO₂ laser supraglottoplasty.

Retrospective cohort of pediatric patients (age < 18 years) undergoing supraglottoplasty at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. The primary exposure was the surgical instrument(s) used during supraglottoplasty. The primary outcome was prolonged intensive care unit (ICU)-stay (defined as >24 h).

155 cases were eligible for inclusion. Fifty-eight (37.4%) patients had a comorbid condition. Common indications for surgery included feeding difficulty (56.1%), severe respiratory distress (33.5%), and obstructive sleep apnea (25.2%). CO₂ laser was employed in 49 cases and cold-steel in 106 cases. Prolonged ICU-stay (>24 h) was observed in 14 CO₂ laser cases (28.6%) and 11 cold-steel cases (10.4%) (adjusted OR 3.42; 95% CI 1.43, 8.33). CO₂ laser cases were more likely to require post-operative intubation, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, and nebulized racemic epinephrine. Concomitant neurological condition was associated with an increased risk of prolonged ICU-stay, while extent of surgery and age were not.

CO₂ laser supraglottoplasty is associated with an increased risk of prolonged ICU-stay and need for ICU-level airway intervention, compared to the cold-steel technique. While this association should not be misconstrued as a causal relationship, the current study demonstrates that specific surgical factors may influence the patient monitoring requirements following supraglottoplasty, particularly the choice of instrument and the extent of surgery.