Long-term quality of life in children after balloon dilatation for subglottic and tracheal stenosis: Eight years’ experience

Subglottic stenosis (SGS) is a significant cause of breathing obstruction in pediatric patients, predominantly acquired due to prolonged endotracheal intubation. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate long-term quality of life in children after Balloon Dilatation for subglottic and tracheal stenosis. This cross-sectional study evaluated pediatric patients with SGS or tracheal stenosis treated with balloon dilatation at a children’s medical center in Tehran, Iran, from 2014 to 2021. The study included patients aged 1 month to 15 years, excluding those with other tracheal conditions, congenital SGS, previous interventions for SGS, or significant comorbidities. Data collected included demographics, dyspnea grading, balloon dilatation frequency, hospital stay duration, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) scores. Fifteen patients (12 male, 3 female) with a mean age of 7.27 ± 1.53 years were included. Most patients had a history of intubation (86.7%) and exhibited grade I or II dyspnea. The average hospital stay post-procedure was 2.2 ± 1.1 days. PedsQL scores indicated high quality of life in physical, psychosocial, social, and emotional domains for most patients. A significant association was found between balloon dilatation frequency and social functioning ( P = .02), but not with other PedsQL aspects or intubation history. Balloon dilatation is an effective, minimally invasive treatment for pediatric SGS, improving clinical outcomes and quality of life. Further studies with larger sample sizes and prospective designs are recommended to confirm these findings and assess long-term outcomes.