TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Airway Endoscopy and Pathology, and Tracheotomy A1 - Georgolios, Alexandros A1 - Johnson, Charles A1 - Bagwell, Charles A2 - Ziegler, Moritz M. A2 - Azizkhan, Richard G. A2 - Allmen, Daniel von A2 - Weber, Thomas R. Y1 - 2014 N1 - T2 - Operative Pediatric Surgery, 2e AB - A child's airway is shorter and smaller in caliber than the adult's, the larynx is placed more anterior, and the structures are more collapsible. Prior to ages 8 to 10 years, the smallest portion of the airway is the subglottic trachea.Stridor merits immediate investigation and is nearly always an indication for airway endoscopy.The principal advantage of rigid over flexible bronchoscopy involves better control of the airway, but also allows access to instruments, removal of foreign bodies, or more effective suctioning capability.Rigid and flexible bronchoscopy are complementary techniques used in various circumstances to assess airway anatomy and function, in some cases concurrently.In the rare urgent case when establishment of an airway is critical and endotracheal intubation fails, the treatment of choice in children is needle access of the trachea with a large-bore angiocath.Retention sutures are placed parallel to the proposed site for a pediatric tracheotomy incision in mid-trachea. These can provide exposure of the trachea and allow replacement in the case of accidental tracheal dislodgement in the early postoperative period.There are various and numerous challenging issues for the parents after the patient is discharged home with a new tracheostomy. These may include skin and stoma care, suctioning, humidification and routine changes of the tracheostomy ties and the tracheostomy tube itself, and education for emergent situations. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/10/10 UR - accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1100432742 ER -