Congenital Stridor as seen in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Saudi Arabia

A prospective study was carried out to determine the prevalent causes and management of congenital stridor in a referral neonatal intensive care unit of Assir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, between 1996 and 1999. Forty cases consisting of 25 males and 15 females were identified during the period . The predominant cause was laryngomalacia in 25 (62.5 per cent) of the cases. Other causes included subglottic stenosis 5 (12.5 per cent), tracheo-oesophageal fistula 3 (7.5 per cent), bilateral vocal cord palsy 2 (5 per cent), vascular compression 2 ( 5 per cent) and one each of laryngeal web, subglottic haemangioma and cystic hygroma. A majority of the laryngomalacia cases resolved spontaneously by the age of 2 years without surgical intervention. Key words: Congenital stridor, neonates Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 2002; 29: 11-13