Hypothesis

Epiglottis reshaping using CO₂ laser: A minimally invasive technique and its potent applications

Constantinos Bourolias¹ , Jiannis Hajiioannou¹ , Emil Sobol² , George Velegrakis¹ and Emmanuel Helidonis¹

¹Department of Otolaryngology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

²Biophotonics Laboratory, Institute on Laser and Information Technologies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Troitsk, Russia

author email corresponding author email

Head & Face Medicine 2008, 4:15doi:10.1186/1746-160X-4-15

Published:	25 July 2008

Abstract

Laryngomalacia (LRM), is the most common laryngeal abnormality of the newborn, caused by a long curled epiglottis, which prolapses posteriorly. Epiglottis prolapse during inspiration (acquired laryngomalacia) is an unusual cause of airway obstruction and a rare cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

We present a minimally invasive technique where epiglottis on cadaveric larynx specimens was treated with CO2 laser. The cartilage reshaping effect induced by laser irradiation was capable of exposing the glottis opening widely. This technique could be used in selected cases of LRM and OSAS due to epiglottis prolapse as an alternative, less morbid approach.