UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Laryngomalacia

Category: Pediatrics

Posted: 7/13/2012 by Rose Chasm, MD (Updated: 3/5/2026)
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congenital disorder which is the most common cause of stridor in infancy
larynx appears disproportionately small, and supporting structures are abnormally soft
stridor begins within the first 4 weeks of life, and accentuates with increased ventilation (crying, excitement, URI, etc.)
stridor usually resolves by 12 months but may recur with URI until about 3 years of age
diagnosis is by fiberoptic bronchoscopy or direct laryngoscopy
therapy is usually not needed, but rarely laser therapy of redundant tissue or traceostomy when stridor occurs with failure to thrive or apnea

NMS Pediatrics, 4th edition