Laryngoplasty, either via laser surgery or traditional means, can also relieve symptoms in select cases. Rarely do children need tracheotomy. These children also have exacerbations with intercurrent respiratory illnesses and therefore need good parental monitoring. The long-term prognosis is good as these children outgrow their problem. Differential diagnosis includes malformation of the laryngeal cartilages or vocal cords including congenital vocal cord paralysis , laryngeal webs, mucus retention cysts, hemangioma, lymphangioma, goiters, thyroglossal duct remnants, branchial cleft cysts, tetany, and laryngeal edema secondary to trauma or aspiration at birth.
Complications are due to acute airway obstruction and perioperative problems.
Underlying causes of tracheomalacia must be sought and treated. Masqueraders of laryngomalacia must also be sought and treated. In the long term, children do well as they outgrow this disorder. List three disease processes that may mimic tracheomalacia. All rights reserved.