Minimally invasive therapy of otorhinolaryngologic emergencies in infants and children: Indications and limitations

Abstract

Minimally invasive therapy of otorhinolaryngologic emergencies in infants and children was made possible by the development of improved paediatric endoscopes, telescopes and advances in anaesthetic and laser techniques. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is a safe and efficacious therapy in children with orbital complications of acute sinusitis requiring surgery. Thus, external ethmoidectomy, which carries a serious risk of late complications like mucoceles, can be avoided. The most demanding emergency, however, is airway obstruction in infants and children. Historically, tracheotomy was the mainstay of treatment. Nowadays, various obstructing proliferations like haemangiomas, papillomas, cysts and granulomas are removed endoscopically. Selected cases of acquired laryngeal and tracheal stenosis may be managed with the CO₂ laser.

Key Words:

• otorhinolaryngology
• paediatric emergency
• endoscopic therapy
• CO₂ laser microsurgery