The Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Application on Airway Problems in Pediatric Patients With Subglottic Stenosis Who Undergo Balloon Dilatation

Acquired pediatric subglottic stenosis is reported to have a prevalence of 1-2% . This rate reaches 8.3% in different case series. Acquired pediatric subglottic stenosis is commonly attributed to prolonged intubation, whereas the etiology also involves a history of traumatic or difficult airway. Balloon dilation laryngoplasty is an efficient and safe technique for treating primary and secondary acquired laryngotracheal stenosis. It is successfully applied in these children. Airway surgery typically necessitates a deeper level of anesthesia to control airway reflexes and manage the fluctuations in hemodynamic parameters, which are characteristic of this surgery.

Nevertheless, general anesthesia must be applied several times to patients due to the need for multiple balloon dilatations. At the same time, the procedure also necessitates coping with postoperative complications that may arise. Because alveolar collapse, which is related to general anesthesia, impairs gas exchange by creating a shunt effect, potentially increasing perioperative hypoxemic episodes, which in turn increases the risk for postoperative pulmonary complications. A recent retrospective analysis found that 40.6% of children who underwent balloon dilation experienced desaturation. Additionally, tracheotomy was required in 15.6% of cases, with an equal percentage needing tracheal intubation.

Prophylactic CPAP in pediatric cases has been shown to improve oxygenation by reducing the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference after pediatric laparoscopic surgery. However, it has been proven that CPAP applied after pediatric cardiac surgery has favorable effects on peak expiratory flow.