We report our experience with the subcranial approach, developed at the Plastic Surgery Unit of Hospital ''Ricardo Gutiérrez,'' for the treatment of injuries in the frontoethmoidal orbital region in pediatric patients. The subcranial approach was described by Raveh et al for the treatment of fractures in the frontoethmoidal area. The subcranial approach was used later for surgery of tumors and deformities of the frontoethmoidal region. We have used this approach in nine cases of nontraumatic injuries (one meningioma, one orbital bone fibrous dysplasia, one vascular malformation, five nasal dermoid cysts, and one fronto-orbital mucocele). One patient with vascular malformation died of a stroke 10 days after surgery. The patient with the meningioma had a recurrence. Another patient developed an infection that needed surgical resolution and hardware removal. A third patient suffered a mild infection that receded with medication. No other complications were registered. The surgical exposure obtained through this approach was always excellent and left no cosmetic defects. There was no evidence of facial growth disturbance in this group of patients, except in one patient who received radiotherapy after surgery. Operative time and hospitalization were lower in this group than in patients with conventional frontal craniotomy.

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Arch Argent Pediatr 2013;111(6):e136-e140 / e136Presentación de casos clínicos RESUMEN La estenosis subglótica es una de las causas más frecuentes de obstrucción de la vía aérea superior en los niños. Si bien puede tener un origen congénito, la mayoría de las estenosis son adquiridas. Debe pensarse en esta patología en todo niño con antecedentes de intubación, instrumentación o trauma de la vía aérea que presenta dificultad respiratoria. El diagnóstico se sospecha por la clínica, los antecedentes y la radiografía cervical, y se confirma mediante el examen endoscópico. La conducta terapéutica dependerá, entre otros factores, del grado de estenosis que se presente. Describimos nuestra experiencia con 6 pacientes que presentaban estenosis subglótica posintubación, tratados quirúrgicamente con técnica de expansión. Palabras clave: estenosis subglótica, niños, intubación endotraqueal, tratamiento quirúrgico. AbStRActSubglottic stenosis is one of the most common causes of upper airway obstruction in children. Even though it may have a congenital origin, most of them are acquired stenosis. This condition should be suspected in any child with a history of intubation, instrumentation or trauma of the airway that is having difficulty breathing. The diagnosis is suspected by clinical, history and cervical radiograph, and is confirmed by endoscopic examination. Among others factors the treatment depends on the stenosis degree. We describe our experience with 6 patients with post-intubation subglottic stenosis treated surgically with expansion technique.

Presentación de casos clínicos RESUMENLa aspiración es el pasaje de contenido alimentario y de secreciones endógenas hacia la vía aérea. La causa puede ser anatómica, neuromuscular o funcional. La hendidura laríngea es una anomalía congénita poco frecuente que debe ser considerada en el diagnóstico diferencial de síndrome aspirativo en recién nacidos y lactantes. Los síntomas principales son el estridor, las infecciones respiratorias recurrentes, y las crisis de cianosis, tos y asfixia durante la alimentación. El diagnóstico se confirma mediante el examen endoscópico. La conducta terapéutica dependerá, entre otros factores, de la extensión de la hendidura que se presente. Se describen las manifestaciones clínicas, los métodos diagnósticos y el tratamiento de un lactante con esta patología, y se enfatiza la necesidad de reconocer los trastornos de la deglución en los niños a fin de establecer el diagnóstico preciso y el tratamiento apropiado para prevenir y evitar la desnutrición, así como el compromiso pulmonar grave y potencialmente irreversible. Palabras clave: aspiración, hendidura laríngea, niños, tratamiento quirúrgico. SUMMARYAspiration is the passage of food content and endogenous secretions into the airway. Anatomical, neuromuscular or functional anomalies are among the major causes. The laryngeal cleft is a rare congenital anomaly that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of aspiration syndrome in neonates and infants. The main symptoms are stridor, recurrent respiratory infections and cyanotic crisis, cough and choking during feeding. The diagnosis is confirmed by endoscopic examination. The therapeutic behaviour will depend on the extent of the cleft, among other factors. We describe the clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods and treatment of an infant with this disease, and we emphasize the need for recognition of swallowing disorders in children in order to establish an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment to prevent and avoid malnutrition as well as a severe and potentially irreversible lung compromise.