Med Lasers 2024; 13(3): 123-127  https://doi.org/10.25289/ML.24.017
The role of CO2 laser surgery in the management of severe laryngomalacia: efficacy, safety, and future directions
Yeon Soo Kim, Kwang Yoon Jung, Seung-Kuk Baek
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Correspondence to: Seung-Kuk Baek
E-mail: mdbsk@korea.ac.kr
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4751-0337
Received: June 17, 2024; Accepted: July 15, 2024; Published online: August 1, 2024.
© Korean Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. All rights reserved.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in infants and often resolves spontaneously by 18-24 months of age. However, severe cases necessitate medical intervention due to significant respiratory distress and feeding difficulties. Laser surgery, using carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers, has emerged as a pivotal therapeutic approach for severe laryngomalacia. This review examines the efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of CO2 laser surgery for laryngomalacia. CO2 lasers offer precise tissue vaporization, minimizing collateral damage and enhancing recovery. Numerous studies have reported high success rates, with significant symptomatic improvement and a reduction in the need for more invasive procedures like tracheostomy. Complications such as intraoperative bleeding and postoperative edema may occur. However, they are generally manageable. Long-term outcomes indicate normal growth and development with minimal impact on voice quality and swallowing function. Advancements in laser technology and ongoing research are expected to further improve the efficacy and safety of laser surgery for laryngomalacia.
Keywords: Laryngomalacia; Lasers, gas; Laser therapy; Supralaryngoplasty; Pediatric

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