The Clinical Features and Risk Factors of Subglottic Cysts in Children: A Clinical Experience Using the Spontaneous Respiration Technique

Abstract

Objective: Subglottic cyst (SGC) is one of the rare causes of respiratory distress caused by upper airway obstruction in infants and young children. Risk factors other than prematurity with a history of endotracheal intubation have not yet been well elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to describe the clinical features and analyze the risk factors of SGC.Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of pediatric patients who underwent marsupialization for SGCs between January 2017 and March 2022 was undertaken. These records were then compared with those of controls with a history of neonatal intubation with a case to control ratio of 1:3. Results: Eleven patients (8 males and 3 females) diagnosed with SGCs and 33 control patients (26 males and 7 females) were included. All patients had a history of premature birth and neonatal intubation. Symptoms of SGC appeared at a mean age of 8.2 months (1–14 months) after extubation. The mean duration of intubation was 21.5 days (2–90 days), and the intubation period was longer in patients with SGC than in controls (21.5