Supraglottoplasty in severe laryngomalacia: impact on weight gain and symptoms resolution in infants

Background: Laryngomalacia is the leading congenital cause of stridor in pediatrics.Its management depends on severity; severe cases accompanied by apnea or poor weight gain require surgical intervention, with supraglottoplasty being the treatment of choice, generally resulting in symptom resolution.Methods: A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted through a retrospective cohort.Medical records of patients diagnosed with severe laryngomalacia who underwent supraglo-ttoplasty were analyzed, collecting sociodemographic data, main symptoms, post-surgical evolution, pre-surgical weight, and weight gain one month after the procedure, as well as surgical complications.Results: A total of 19 patients (16 males and 3 females) were included, with a mean age of 3.16 months.The main symptom was stridor, and 36.9% had concomitant gastroesophageal reflux disease.Supraglottoplasty had a success rate of 68.4% in the first postoperative month and 100% during follow-up.All patients showed weight gain,with 15% achieving an adequate weight for their age.Conclusions: Supraglotto-plasty is confirmed as an effective treatment for severe laryngomalacia, as it resolves respiratory symptoms and improves the nutritional status of patients by increasing their weight gain.