Objective: Adult-onset laryngomalacia is a rare clinical entity that has been infrequently reported. This study aims to evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of adult-onset laryngomalacia through literature review and report of a case.
Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were queried for articles published from 1960 to 2019 including only patients aged 18 years and older. Included keywords were: 'laryngomalacia', 'adult laryngomalacia', 'acquired laryngomalacia', 'idiopathic laryngomalacia', 'laryngeal obstruction', 'floppy epiglottis', 'floppy epiglottis', and 'epiglottis prolapse'. Data extracted from literature included clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, surgical management, and follow-up care.
Sources: PubMed and Google Scholar.
Results: A total of 21 articles reported 41 cases of adult-onset laryngomalacia. Within these cases, 5 etiologies were identified: neurologic (n = 14), exercise-induced (n = 9), post-operative (n = 7), idiopathic (n = 7), and age-related (n = 4) laryngomalacia. Anterior prolapse of arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds was the most common laryngoscopic finding (n = 21), followed by posterior epiglottic prolapse (n = 20). Management included supraglottoplasty (n = 14), epiglottidectomy (n = 8) or epiglottopexy (n = 2). Neurologic etiology required tracheotomy more often than the other etiologies (n = 5, 36% vs. 15%). Three patients were managed expectantly without surgical intervention and reported symptom resolution.
Conclusion: Adult laryngomalacia is a rare diagnosis comprising a spectrum of disease. This diagnosis may be overlooked, but association with neurologic injury or trauma should encourage consideration. In comparison to pediatric laryngomalacia, patients often require surgical intervention. Surgical decision is based on the direction of supraglottic collapse, where supraglottoplasty and partial epiglottidectomy are effective interventions.
Level Of Evidence: N/A.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102469 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Adult Laryngomalacia: A Scoping Review.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
April 2024
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Objective: This review sought to determine the characteristics of adults diagnosed with new onset laryngomalacia including airway symptoms, laryngoscopic findings, treatments, and outcomes. Moreover, we wanted to highlight suspected limitations in the literature.
Data Sources: Studies were identified through CINAHL, Cochrane Review, PubMed, and Scopus published between 1966 and 2023.
Acquired laryngomalacia as a cause of post-extubation stridor and extubation failure following craniotomy: a case report.
JA Clin Rep
July 2023
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, N14W5, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan.
Background: Laryngomalacia is a dynamic airway condition characterized by flaccid laryngeal tissue and inward collapse of supraglottic structures during inspiration. Although it may cause airway obstruction and requires careful management, there have been few reports regarding laryngomalacia after surgery. We report a case of adult-onset laryngomalacia occurred after craniotomy requiring reintubation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDual Staged Supraglottoplasty for the Treatment of Trapdoor Epiglottis with Underlying Neurodegenerative Disease-Case report and Review of literature.
Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
December 2022
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
To describe the technique and outcome of a novel dual staged supraglottoplasty for the treatment of neurological induced adult onset laryngomalacia. A 55 year old male had a diagnosed neurodegenerative disorder with suspected Pompe's disease associated with Trap door epiglottis and proximal myopathy.This was complicated with emergency airway distress and subsequent tracheostomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcquired laryngomalacia as a cause of post-extubation respiratory failure in patient with postoperative seizure and central pontine myelinolysis after craniotomy.
J Med Invest
October 2022
Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan.
Background : Laryngomalacia is a congenital abnormality of the larynx that commonly occurs in children and rarely in adults. We report the first case of acquired laryngomalacia mainly due to postoperative seizure and central pontine myelinolysis after scheduled craniotomy. Case presentation : A 69-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for elective craniotomy for craniopharyngioma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDifferential diagnosis and management of adult-onset laryngomalacia.
Am J Otolaryngol
October 2020
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 830 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America. Electronic address:
Objective: Adult-onset laryngomalacia is a rare clinical entity that has been infrequently reported. This study aims to evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of adult-onset laryngomalacia through literature review and report of a case.
Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were queried for articles published from 1960 to 2019 including only patients aged 18 years and older.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!