Laryngomalacia in Neonates Versus Older Infants: HCUP-KID Perspective

This study evaluated the hospital course for neonates and older infants with a diagnosis of laryngomalacia (LM). Data came from the 2016 Kids’ Inpatient Database of the Healthcare Cost Utilization Project. A total of 6537 children aged <1 year with a diagnosis of LM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, code Q31.5) were identified: 2212 neonates and 4325 non-neonates. Neonates had a higher mortality rate, 1.31% versus 0.72% in older infants, had more diagnoses (median 9 vs 7) and procedures (mean 85.24 vs 21.83), longer length of stay (median 10 vs 4 days), and higher total charges (median US$65 722 vs US$25 582). A total of 23.3% of neonates born during the admission and diagnosed with LM had undergone laryngoscopy. Second airway lesions were present in 12.33% of neonates and 15.77% of older infants. It appears that neonates are being discharged with a diagnosis of LM without laryngoscopy. Neonatal intensive care unit and newborn nursery policies should require visualization of the larynx prior to diagnosis of LM.