Should granulomas be excised in children with long-term tracheotomy?

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992 Dec;118(12):1323-7. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1992.01880120049010.

Abstract

We reviewed 265 rigid bronchoscopies performed in 50 children with tracheotomy-dependent subglottic stenosis (25 congenital, 25 acquired). Granulomas developed in 40 children (80%) and were unrelated to age, sex, race, gastroesophageal reflux, tracheotomy duration, or type of stenosis. The incidence of small to medium, large, and obstructing granulomas at endoscopy was 28%, 6%, and 0%, respectively. Compared with a baseline finding of no granuloma at preceding bronchoscopy, the odds of granuloma recurrence were 3.0 after an unexcised granuloma (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 8.4), 4.1 after granuloma excision (95% CI, 1.4 to 11.9), and 7.3 after expansion surgery (95% CI, 1.1 to 49.2). Considering the low incidence of large or obstructing granulomas, and the failure of granuloma excision to diminish recurrence, we do not recommend interval excision of nonobstructing granulomas in children with stable tracheotomies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bronchoscopy
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Granuloma / diagnosis
  • Granuloma / etiology
  • Granuloma / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Recurrence
  • Tracheal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Tracheal Diseases / etiology
  • Tracheal Diseases / surgery*
  • Tracheal Stenosis / surgery
  • Tracheotomy / adverse effects*