Treatment of Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Laryngomalacia: the Role of Laser Supraglottoplasty

Overview

This is a research study of the effect of treating laryngomalacia (floppiness of tissue on top of the voice box that can possibly block breathing) found in association with obstructive sleep apnea (blockage of breathing while sleeping). The purpose of this study is to determine which is the best treatment for children with obstructive sleep apnea and laryngomalacia: adenotonsillectomy alone or adenotonsillectomy with laser supraglottoplasty (removal of tissue on top of the voice box to open the airway).

If you agree to have your child be in the study, you will do the following things: you are consenting to your child having the adenoid (tissue similar to lymph nodes, found in the back of the throat) and tonsils removed (if not previously performed), direct laryngoscopy (looking in the throat) and bronchoscopy (inspection of the lungs with a long tube-like device down the throat), and randomization (½ will be treated further, ½ will be observed) into treatment and no-treatment arms if your child is diagnosed with laryngomalacia. After starting general anesthesia (putting patient to sleep for procedure), the surgeon will perform direct laryngoscopy (look at the throat and voice box) and bronchoscopy (look at the entrance to the lungs \[trachea or windpipe\]). If your child is diagnosed with laryngomalacia (flopping of the tissue around the voice box, potentially causing obstruction or blockage), 50% will undergo a further treatment (laser supraglottoplasty, or removal of tissue at the entrance of the voice box) and 50% will be observed. The decision to treat or not treat will be random, as is customary for prospective research trials. All children (both treatment arms will receive a 3 week treatment of a medicine (a proton pump inhibitor) to reduce the level of stomach acid and prevent potential exposure of the larynx (voice-box) to stomach acid. If your child does not have laryngomalacia, no further treatment on the larynx (voice-box) will be performed. Next, adenotonsillectomy will be performed as is common for the Otolaryngologist performing the procedure. Postoperatively, a sleep study will be performed (identical to the preoperative study) ideally 3-6 months after surgery, (but up to one year after) to monitor your child's progress. Additional laboratory tests or drawing of blood is not routine in this procedure, but may be performed as dictated by your child's medical conditions.