About Supraglottoplasty
Key Highlights
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Minimally invasive procedure performed endoscopically through the mouth, avoiding external cuts.Highly effective in resolving severe stridor (noisy breathing) and breathing difficulties in infants.Can significantly improve associated feeding problems and poor weight gain (failure to thrive).Typically a short-duration surgery, often allowing for a quick recovery and shorter hospital stay.Addresses the root cause of obstructive laryngomalacia by directly reshaping the airway structures.
Who is this surgery for?
- Severe laryngomalacia causing significant inspiratory stridor (noisy breathing) that interferes with daily life.
- Life-threatening events such as apnea (pauses in breathing) or severe oxygen desaturation related to the airway obstruction.
- Feeding difficulties leading to poor weight gain or failure to thrive in the infant.
- Significant retractions (pulling in of the chest muscles) during breathing, indicating increased work of breathing.
- Pulmonary hypertension or cor pulmonale (heart strain) secondary to chronic airway obstruction.
- Persistent symptoms that do not improve with conservative management and time.
How to prepare
- A comprehensive pre-operative evaluation by the ENT surgeon and a pediatric anesthesiologist is mandatory.
- Diagnostic tests like flexible laryngoscopy are performed to confirm the severity and anatomy of the laryngomalacia.
- Parents will receive detailed instructions regarding fasting (NPO - nothing by mouth) before the surgery, typically for 4-6 hours for clear liquids and longer for milk/formula.
- A review of the infant's complete medical history and any current medications is conducted.
- Consent forms explaining the procedure, risks, and benefits are discussed and signed by the parents/guardians.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding during or after the procedure, though uncommon.
- Infection at the surgical site.
- Swelling of the airway tissues post-surgery, which may temporarily worsen breathing.
- Risk of injury to surrounding structures, such as the vocal cords, potentially affecting voice.
- Scar tissue formation (granulation tissue) at the surgical site, which might require additional treatment.
- Anesthesia-related risks, common to any procedure requiring general anesthesia.
- Possible need for a repeat procedure if symptoms are not fully resolved.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Immediate post-operative care occurs in a recovery room with close monitoring of breathing and vital signs.
- Most infants are observed in the hospital for 1-2 days to ensure stable breathing and adequate oral intake.
- Pain is typically managed with age-appropriate medications. Some throat discomfort or a hoarse cry is common initially.
- Feeding may be resumed slowly, starting with clear liquids and advancing as tolerated. Instructions for feeding positions will be provided.
- Parents will be advised to watch for signs of complications like increased breathing difficulty, fever, or refusal to drink.
- A follow-up appointment with the ENT surgeon is scheduled to assess healing, usually within a few weeks.
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Typical hospital stay: 1-2 days
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Expected recovery time: 1-2 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering supraglottoplasty in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for supraglottoplasty in India include Manipal Hospital Dwarka, Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Manipal Hospital Hebbal, KMC Hospital Mangalore, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform supraglottoplasty. MediFyr helps you compare ent specialists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for supraglottoplasty compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Supraglottoplasty in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated ent teams and experience managing patients undergoing supraglottoplasty.
Aarav Garcia is a 7-month-old baby...
Aarav Garcia is a 7-month-old baby boy, the first child of young parents who moved to the city for work. Since he was about 4 months old, his parents noticed he made a high-pitched, squeaky sound (stridor) when breathing in, especially when he was upset or feeding. Feeding became a marathon, he would suck a few times, then pull away gasping, often turning blue around the lips (cyanosis). He was failing to gain weight properly. After multiple visits to the pediatrician for 'reflux', he was referred to a pediatric ENT. The doctor diagnosed him with severe laryngomalacia, where the soft tissue above his vocal cords was floppy and collapsing into his airway. The doctor recommended a supraglottoplasty, explaining it as a minor procedure to trim that floppy tissue and open his airway. The surgery lasted under an hour. Aarav spent one night in the PICU for monitoring. Immediately after, his stridor was quieter. Within days, his breathing was effortless and silent for the first time. He began feeding vigorously, finishing bottles without distress. His parents' journey was one of constant anxiety, sleepless nights watching him breathe, and feeling helpless. Post-surgery, their overwhelming emotion was relief and joy, watching their son breathe, eat, and thrive without a struggle.
ENT Specialists for Supraglottoplasty
Explore experienced ent specialists who regularly perform supraglottoplasty and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 16 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 21 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
- 14 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 9 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
- 26 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 24 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 21 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 18 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 43 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 38 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 36 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 24 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 29 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 20 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala
- 10 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala
- 14 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Mysore, Mysore
- 14 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Mysore, Mysore
- 19 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 26 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Bangalore