RT Book, Section 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. SR Print(0) ID 1100432742 T1 Airway Endoscopy and Pathology, and Tracheotomy T2 Operative Pediatric Surgery, 2e YR 2014 FD 2014 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-162723-8 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1100432742 RD 2024/10/15 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.