Deleterious consequences of gastroesophageal reflux in cleft larynx surgery

Our series of 17 children with laryngotracheal clefts is reported. In three of four cases with a complicated postoperative course, gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been found. Three breakdowns of the surgical repair opposed to be due to GER. Only one child with a cleft type III died, although a mortality rate of 93% is reported in the literature. GER has to be excluded before tracheoesophageal cleft surgery is undertaken.