Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term health related quality of life (HRQoL) in a cohort of children surgically treated for laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS). Study design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Parents of children between 4 and 18 years at follow-up completed the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form (CHQ-PF50). Children between 11 and 18 years at follow-up completed the Child Health Questionnaire Child Form (CHQ-CF87). Biographical and pre-operative data were extracted from the hospital records. Post-operative measurements consisted of the Bruce treadmill test and pulmonary function testing (PFT). Results: Fifty-four parents completed the CHQ-PF50; twenty-one children completed the CHQ-CF87. The CHQ-PF50 was significantly worse than the norm population on the subscales physical functioning, role functioning: emotional/behavior, general health perceptions, family activities, parental impact: emotional, and time. CHQ-CF87 was significantly worse than the norm population on physical functioning and better on mental health. After multivariate analysis, presence of co-morbidities and glottic stenosis are the most important pre-operative factors for worse scores on general health. As post-operative measurements, the Bruce treadmill test and peak expiratory flow (PEF) correlate well with HRQoL physical subscales. Conclusions: At long-term follow-up after treatment for LTS, deficits in HRQoL may still exist. Presence of co-morbidities and glottic stenosis are important negative factors for long-term HRQoL. The Bruce treadmill test and peak expiratory flow on pulmonary function testing correlate well with physical subscales on HRQoL. A long-term multidisciplinary follow-up with assessment of HRQoL is advised in patients treated for LTS.

, , , , ,
doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2016.02.008, hdl.handle.net/1765/88697
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology

Pullens, B., Dulfer, K., Buysse, C., Hoeve, H., Timmerman, M. K., & Joosten, K. (2016). Long-term quality of life in children after open airway surgery for laryngotracheal stenosis. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 84, 88–93. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2016.02.008