The treatment of a congenital laryngeal web

Past descriptions of the surgical treatment of congenital laryngeal webs have involved a laryngofissure to achieve division of the web and the insertion of a tantalum keel to prevent its reformation. The technique described below obviates the need for an open operation on the larynx. The web is divided under magnified vision through a laryngoscope using a Zeiss operating microscope. A silastic keel is secured between the vocal cords at the anterior commissure by means of a loop of nylon passing externally through the crico-thyroid and crico-hyoid membranes.