UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Laryngomalacia

Category: Pediatrics

Posted: 3/25/2010 by Rose Chasm, MD (Updated: 4/11/2010)
Click here to contact Rose Chasm, MD

the most common cause of stridor in the newborn
the laryngeal skeleton is not stiff enough to resist the negative pressure during inspiration causing narrowing and stridor
can occur at birth but most commonly seen at 2 weeks of age, and is more pronounced with agitation
for most, close observation is sufficient as the cartilage becomes more rigid with age
usually outgrown by 12-18 months of age
in severe cases, feeding may be affected and nighttime obstructive hypoxia may occur