Subglottic hemangiomas in infants: treatment with CO2 laser

Subglottic hemangiomas in infants are rare but potentially lethal. Although the majority tend to regress after 12 to 18 months, lethal compromise of the airway is always possible until then. A plethora of treatments have been advocated for subglottic hemangiomas, each with significant morbidity. Eleven consecutive patients have undergone laser resection of subglottic hemangiomas at the University of California, San Francisco. Three infants have been managed without a tracheotomy. If a tracheotomy is required, earlier removal can be achieved with laser resection. No subglottic stenosis or hemorrhage has occurred following laser resection. CO2 laser resection is now the safest and most effective treatment available.